Family predictors of child-to-parent violence: the role of family discipline.

Child-to-parent violence is a social problem that is qualitatively different from other types of family violence, since adolescents direct their violence toward those who should represent authority and provide for their welfare. The main goal of this study was to analyze the role of family relationships and family discipline on violent and prosocial behavior by adolescents toward their parents. Participants were 585 children aged between 12 and 18 from 8 schools in the Autondinous Community of the Basque Country (Spain). Results show that family relationships based on affect and communication are those that promote prosocial behaviors by children and reduce their violent behaviors at home. However, power-assertive parental discipline strategies and partially punitive strategies (monitoring and penalty) were associated to more physical and psychological violence by adolescents toward their parents. Finally, implications of these findings for parenting education are discussed.