Adolescent-to-Parent Violence: Translating Research into Effective Practice

Adolescent Res Rev (2017) 2:181–198 DOI 10.1007/s40894-016-0051-y NARRATIVE REVIEW Adolescent-to-Parent Violence: Translating Research into Effective Practice Karey L. O’Hara1 · Jennifer E. Duchschere1 · Connie J. A. Beck1 · Erika Lawrence1 Received: 16 November 2016 / Accepted: 19 December 2016 / Published online: 18 January 2017 © Springer International Publishing 2017 Abstract Adolescent-to-parent violence is an increasingly recognized family and societal problem. Documented prevalence rates range between 5 and 22% of the population; however, researchers speculate that this is a gross underestimate. Parents and caregivers are hesitant to report adolescent-to-parent violence because, in large part, there are no standardized protocols for police response and evidence-based treatment practices are nonexistent. This article offers an updated narrative review of existing literature on adolescent-to-parent violence found through word searches in the databases Google Scholar and PsychInfo followed by additional review of cited literature in all articles located. We review extant theoretical frameworks that guide research and practice, discuss the impact of inconsistent research methods on the current state of knowledge, integrate new empirical data on risk and protective factors and assessment procedures, and detail existing intervention approaches. There are substantial detrimental consequences of adolescent-to-parent violence for families and current research, assessment, and intervention practices have fallen short of fully addressing these needs. A collective, collaborative, and interdisciplinary effort by clinical scientists, * Karey L. O’Hara Jennifer E. Duchschere Connie J. A. Beck Erika Lawrence 1 Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, 1503 E University Blvd. Suite 312, P.O. Box 210068, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA mental health practitioners, and the legal community is greatly needed to develop a more comprehensive and integrated literature that can then inform policy and practice. Keywords Adolescent aggression · Family violence · Parent abuse · Juvenile justice Introduction Adolescent-to-parent violence is reported to occur in between 5 and 22% of the population (Cornell and Gelles 1982; Holt 2015; Peek et al. 1985; Routt and Anderson 2011); however, it is likely an underreported problem (Holt and Retford 2012). Although the full extent of this form of violence is unknown, it is clear that youth who exhibit violence toward caregivers represent an important population in need of effective prevention and intervention services. These violent behaviors confer risk for deleterious developmental, psychological, academic, and legal consequences for the adolescents (Kennedy et al. 2010). A collective, collaborative, and interdisciplinary effort by clinical scientists, mental health practitioners, and the legal community is greatly needed. Development of empirically-informed practices for screening, prevention, and intervention will maximize the likelihood that at-risk youth will be connected with evidenced-based services to positively alter negative trajectories and reduce risk of legal system involvement. Two published review articles have evaluated the state of the literature concerning adolescent-to-parent violence (Hong et al. 2012; Kennair and Mellor 2007). In the first article, the authors summarized major findings, identified empirical gaps in the literature and concluded that, despite growing interest in the topic, conceptual models were underdeveloped, empirical findings regarding reliable risk 13 Vol.:(0123456789) 182 factors were largely equivocal, and evidence for effective interventions were profoundly lacking. The authors called for movement toward greater public awareness of adolescent-to-parent violence as a social problem and rigorous research investigating efficacious treatment approaches (Kennair and Mellor 2007). The more recent review article synthesized existing evidence on sociodemographic risk factors of adolescent-toparent violence, and situated findings within an ecological framework to promote a more comprehensive understanding of contributing factors (Hong et al. 2012). The authors examined existing evidence regarding risk factors across levels of influence (i.e., micro-, meso-, exo-, macro-, and chrono-systems) and organized data indicating risk of adolescent abuse toward parents as a function of sociodemographic (i.e., age, gender, SES, ethnicity), and socialecological (i.e., familial and peer relationships, adverse experiences, media and cultural influences) factors. The study found that, although some consistency exists regarding increased risk for adolescent-to-parent violence as a function of age, gender, and ethnicity, the phenomenon is more comprehensively understood by considering the interactive and complex set of risk and protective factors occurring at multiple levels of the youth’s environment (Hong et al. 2012). The authors posited that Bronfenbrenner’s ecological model is most conducive to understanding such complexities and urge the research community to look beyond the sociodemographic and micro-system levels of influence. Further, practice implications are detailed and specific suggestions are offered with regard to targeting multiple levels of influence in assessment and intervention procedures. The current article offers an updated review and synthesis of existing literature on adolescent-to-parent violence. We review the status of theoretical frameworks that guide research and practice, discuss the impact of variability in the research methodology on the current state of knowledge, integrate new empirical data on risk and protective factors, and review developments in assessment procedures and intervention approaches. The two existing review articles discussed previously contributed to progress in this field by providing a survey of existing research and highlighting gaps in knowledge that can be addressed by improving our conceptual models and using theory to guide analysis of data and influence intervention development. We build on these reviews by providing an overview of the collective evidence inclusive of new findings and detailing limitations in existing data. We also extend efforts made by these authors in urging the research community to organize efforts toward a more comprehensive and integrated literature well equipped to inform policy and practice. Specifically, we advocate for a new research agenda rooted in collaborative, multidisciplinary efforts toward encouraging 13 Adolescent Res Rev (2017) 2:181–198 theory development and establishing best practices in assessment and intervention for families at risk for adolescent-to-parent violence. This article presents a narrative analysis of existing data on adolescent-to-parent violence. At the present time, there does not exist an adequate number of studies to conduct a meta-analysis. Instead, we reviewed all empirical and scholarly work i (...truncated)