Research on family violence has focused on spousal violence and child abuse with little
attention to youth-on-parent violence. Limited survey data suggest that 10% of all
juveniles hit their parents. These assaults create long-term detrimental effects. This
study of 83 adjudicated juveniles in central Illinois, charged with domestic battery or
violence against their parents, examined demographic characteristics of the juveniles
and their parents/caretakers, reported criminal behaviors, drug/alcohol use, gang
involvement, medical/mental/emotional/behavioral conditions, and school disciplinary
problems. In addition, family dynamics, such as criminal convictions of family members,
were analyzed. Juveniles? mental/emotional conditions, drug/alcohol use, and gang
involvement played important roles in parent battering. |