INSTRUMENTAL AND REACTIVE CHILD-TO-PARENT VIOLENCE: THE PREDICTIVE ROLE OF PARENT-TO-CHILD MALTREATMENT

There are currently numerous studies on child-to-parent violence that have analysed the influence of family violence in the development of this phenomenon. In this sense, it has been identified that exposure to domestic violence and parent-to-child maltreatment contribute greatly to the increase in situations of child-to-parent violence. Violent behaviour is presented as a mean to obtain a benefit (instrumental reasons) or as a mean to defend against a threat (reactive reasons). This study aimed to examine the relationship and contribution of parent-to-child maltreatment in child-to-parent violence exercised for instrumental and reactive reasons. For this, there was a sample of 1,156 adolescents from the community population. The Child-to-Parent Violence Questionnaire and the Violence Exposure Scale were applied. The findings indicated relationships between different manifestations of parent-to-child maltreatment and instrumental and reactive child-to-parent violence. In addition, it was identified that parent-to-child maltreatment contributed to explain both instrumental and reactive child-to-parent violence, being the greater proportion for the latter. On the other hand, the abuse by the father contributes to explain the child-to-parent violence towards the mother. The results of this study improve the understanding of child-to-parent violence and it could be useful for preventive and intervention purposes.