Child-initiated family abuse research

Doctoral research into the extent of the problem and possible solutions to it

VIOLENCE and insults repeatedly hurled at parents by their children are acknowledged by the UK Government as a major issue, but are still regarded as a largely hidden area of abuse.

Now, a University of Huddersfield researcher aims to shine a light on a problem that causes immense damage to family life.  Responses to a strictly confidential questionnaire she has devised – now available online – plus a series of follow-up interviews will provide valuable data for agencies working in the field.

Fiona Mae Creevy is working towards a PhD on the issue of child-initiated family abuse and her detailed questionnaire has already garnered interest after its launch on social media.  Now, she explores other outlets so that she has the biggest possible response for a study that aims to explore the abuse from the parents’ perspectives.

“There are questions on the type of behaviour exhibited by the child; the frequency and severity of the behaviour; how the behaviour affects parents’ well-being, the child’s well-being and other children in the family,” said Fiona.

Her questionnaire also asks about any services parents may have contacted and their experience of them; plus, any self-help strategies they have used and how effective they were. 

“The online questionnaire is anonymous, but at the end there is a contact so parents can email me and volunteer for in-depth interviews,” said Fiona, “and some have already done that.  I am hoping to get couples to take part, because two-parent families are under-researched in this field,” continued Fiona, who moved on to doctoral work after achieving first-class honours in her University of Huddersfield Sociology and Criminology degree.

“My aim is to create a deeper understanding of child-initiated family abuse and the effect that it has on the family.  It has a devastating impact but it is very difficult to do anything about it because there’s no clear definition.  I am hoping that my research will lead to greater clarity.”

The Government’s new Bill titled Transforming the Response to Domestic Abuse has a section on what it terms “adolescent to parent violence”, describing it as a “relatively hidden but increasingly recognised form of domestic abuse”.  The pledge is to “draw together best practice and develop training and resources”.

Most of the emphasis has been placed on adolescent boys who physically abuse their mothers – sometimes with weapons – and cause damage to property.  But fathers are victims too and girls also perpetrate abuse.  Children as young as three can display abusive behaviour, said Fiona.

“Physical violence causes actual harm, but parents report that it’s the on-going psychological abuse that can be the most damaging,” she added.