Abstract
The relationship between physical assault upon parents by their offspring and social and psychological variables is analyzed in this study of 445 California families, half of whom are Hispanic and half Anglo. Results indicate that the assaulting of parents reflects a generalized pattern of negative parent-child relationships and diminished sense of well-being by youngsters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, E. (1981). The underside of married life: Power, influence and violence. In Howker, L. H. (ed.),Women and Crime in America, Macmillan, New York.
Adler, P., Ovando, C., and Hocevar, D. (1984). Familiar correlates of gang membership: An exploratory study of Mexican-American youth.Hisp. J. Behav. Sci. 6: 65–76.
Alvirez, D., and Bean, F. D. (1976). The Mexican-American family. In Mindel, C. H., and Haberstein, R. W. (eds.),Ethnic Families in America: Patterns and Variations, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, New York, New York.
Bandura, A. (1973).Aggression: A Social Learning Analysis, Prentice-Hall, Englewood, N.J.
Burston, G. (1977). Do elderly patients live in fear of being battered?Mod. Geria. 7: 54–55.
Coombs, R. H., and Landsverk, J. (1988). Parenting styles and substance use of during childhood and adolescence.J. Man. Fam. 50: 473–482.
Duffy, E. (1985). Alcohol Abuse and Its Implications for Families. Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. Washington, D.C.
Editor. (June, 1983) When kids kill their parents.Newsweek 26: 35.
Emery, R. (1982). Interparental conflict and the children of discord and divorce.Psychol. Bull. 92: 310–330.
Fagan, J., Stewart, D., and Hansen, K. (1983). Violent men or violent husbands? Background factors and situational correlates. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),The Dark Side of Families: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Felson, R. (1983). Aggression and violence between siblings.Soc. Psychol. Quart. 46: 271–285.
Felson, R., and Russo, N. (1988). Parental punishment and sibling aggression.Soc. Psychol. Quart. 51: 11–18.
Finkelhor, D. (1983). Introduction. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),The Dark Side of Families: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Finkelhor, D. (1984).Child Sexual Abuse, The Free Press, New York.
Garbarino, J., and Gilliam, G. (1980).Understanding Abusive Families, Heath Publishing, Lexington, Mass.
Gelles, R. (1974). Child abuse as psychopathology: A sociological critique and reformulation. In Steinmetz, S., and Straus, M. (eds.),Violence in the Family, Dodd, Mead, New York.
Gelles, R. (1983). An exchange/social control theory. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),The Dark Side of Families: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Gondolf, E. (1985).Men Who Batter, Learning Publications, Holmes Beach, Fla.
Gulker, V. (1985). Alcohol Abuse and Its Implications For Families. Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
Hanssen, C., and Paulson, M. (1972). Our anti-establishment: Youth-revolution or evolution.Adol. 7: 393–408.
Hart, W. (1984). Attorney General's Task Force on Family Violence Final Report, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.
Herrenkohl, E., Herrenkohl, R., and Toedter, L. (1983). Perspectives on the intergenerational transmission of abuse. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),The Dark Side of Families: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Herzberger, S. (1983). Social cognition and the transmission of abuse. In Finkelhor, D. (ed.),The Dark Side of Families: Current Family Violence Research, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Jaffe, P., Wolfe, D., Wilson, S., and Zak, L. (1986). Similarities in behavioral and social maladjustment among child victims and witnesses to family violence.Am. J. Orthopsychiat. 56: 142–146.
Johnson, D. (1979). Abuse and neglect: Not for children only.J. Gerent. Nurse 5: 11–13.
Kempe, C., Silverman, F., Steele, B., Droegemueller, W., and Silver, H. (1962). The battered child syndrome.JAMA 181: 17–24.
Kosberg, J. (1988). Preventing elder abuse: Identification of high risk factors prior to placement decisions.The Gerontologist 28: 43–50.
Lystad, M. (1986).Violence in the Home: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Bruner/Mazel, New York.
Monahan, J. (1981).Predicting Violent Behavior: An Assessment of Clinical Techniques, Sage, Beverly Hills.
Paulson, M., Lin, T., and Hanssen, C. (1972). Family harmony: An etiologic factor in alienation.Child Devel. 43: 591–603.
Paulson, M. (1978). Early intervention and treatment of child abuse: Our nation's mandate.Psychiat. Opin. 15: 34–38.
Paulson, M. (1982). Identifying and helping the child abusing family. In Pasnau, R. (ed.),Psychosocial Aspects of Medical Practice (Vol. 1), Addison Wesley Publishing Company, Menlo Park, Calif.
Paulson, M. (1985). Interdisciplinary and community based approaches to treating and preventing child assault. In Meier, J. (ed.),Assault Against Children-Why It Happens, How to Stop It, College Hill Press, San Diego, Calif.
Pillemer, K. (1985). The dangers of dependency: New findings on domestic violence against the elderly.Social Problems 33: 146–158.
Pillemer, K., and Finkelhor, D. (1988). The prevalence of elder abuse: A random sample survey.Gerontol. 28: 51–57.
Rosenbaum, A., and O'Leary, K. (1981). Marital violence: Characteristics of abusive couples.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 49: 63–71.
Russell, D. (1983). Incidence and prevalence of intrafamilial and extrafamilial sexual abuse of female children.Child Abuse Negl. 7: 133–146.
Schroeder, P. (1983). Parental Absence and Father's Roles. Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.
Sorrells, J. (1977). Kids who kill.Crime Delinq. 23: 312–320.
Straus, M. (1973). A general systems theory approach to a theory of violence between family members.Soc. Sci. Info. 12: 105–125.
Straus, M. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: The conflict tactics (CT) scales.J. Man. Fam. 41: 75–88.
Straus, M., Gelles, R., and Steinmetz, S. (1980).Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family, Doubleday, New York.
Wolfe, D., and Mosk, M. (1983). Behavioral comparisons of children from abusive and distressed families.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 51: 702–708.
Zapata, J. T., and Jaramillo, P. T. (1981). The Mexican-American family: An Adlerian perspective.Hisp. J. Behav. Sci. 3: 275–290.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Paulson, M.J., Coombs, R.H. & Landsverk, J. Youth who physically assault their parents. J Fam Viol 5, 121–133 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00978515
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00978515