Child-to-parent Violence and Parent-to-child Violence: A Meta-analytic Review

• Published in: The European journal of psychology applied to legal context Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 51 - 59
• Main Authors: Gallego, Raquel, Novo, Mercedes, Fariña, Francisca, Arce, Ramón
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Madrid Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos (PSICODOC) 01-01-2019; Sociedad Española de Psicología Jurídica y Forense; Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid; Sociedad Española de Psicología Jurídica y Forense
• Subjects: Aggressiveness; Behavior; Behavioral Sciences; Child abuse & neglect; Child-to-parent violence; Children & youth; Direct victimization; Domestic violence; Emotional abuse; Law; Learning; Meta-analysis; Murders & murder attempts; Parent-to-child violence; Parents & parenting; Psychology; Sampling error; Teenagers; Vicarious victimization; Victimization; Victims of crime; Violence; Canada; Victimización secundaria; Violencia de hijos a padres; Vicarious victimization; Metaanálisis; Victimización directa; Child-to-parent violence; Parent-to-child violence; Direct victimization; Violencia de padres a hijos; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1889-1861; 1989-4007; 1989-4007
• DOI: 10.5093/ejpalc2019a4

In order to examine the literature on the relationship between child-to-parent violence and parent-to-child violence, a meta-analytic review was designed with 26 effect sizes assessing the relationship between child-to-parent and parentto-child violence in 19 primary studies. Correlational effect sizes were computed and corrected for sampling error, and predictor and criterion unreliability. The results showed a significantly positive, medium magnitude (p = .36) mean true effect size for the relationship between child-to-parent violence and parent-to-child violence. Similar results were found for direct and vicarious victimization. The probability of developing child-to-parent violence for children victimized by parents increased 71% as compared to non-victimized children. The child-to parent violence type (physical or psychological), and the population (judicial or community) were analysed as moderators. The results revealed similar effects in both types of child-to-parent violence and in both populations: a significantly positive, medium in magnitude mean true effect size. The theoretical and practical implications for measuring child-to parent violence are discussed.