Adolescent-to-Parent Abuse

Adolescent-to-parent abuse is a serious social problem that has received limited attention from researchers and service providers. Most knowledge about this type of violence in the family comes from quantitative studies that focus on intrafamilial characteristics, demographic factors, and overall rates of abuse. The aim of this article is to provide detailed qualitative descriptions of adolescent-to-parent abuse based on the combined findings of two independent Canadian studies. Information was gathered through semistructured focus groups and individual interviews with youth, parents, and service providers—all of whom were selectively recruited for their experiential knowledge on this topic. The data from both studies were analyzed through a qualitative coding strategy, and the research process was guided by a critical constructivist philosophy with a focus on nested ecological theory. Overall findings revealed a number of interacting factors that contribute to adolescent-to-parent abuse, and these occur across psychological, intrafamilial, social, and political spheres.