08/04/2025
Understanding Teen Mental Health and Parent-Child Violence
Teen years can be challenging, and mental health struggles can sometimes manifest in harmful ways, including violence against parents. It's crucial to raise awareness.
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Breaking the Silence: Teen Violence and Mental Health
Teen violence against parents is a pressing issue that often goes unnoticed. As adolescents navigate a complex world, mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and trauma can sometimes lead to aggression at home.
Key Facts:
Prevalence: Studies show that a significant number of parents experience violence from their teenage children, often linked to untreated mental health issues.
Signs to Watch: Changes in behavior, increased irritability, withdrawal, and substance abuse can be red flags.
Prevention and Support: Early intervention, access to mental health resources, and open communication are vital.
How You Can Help:
Educate Yourself: Understanding the signs of mental health struggles in teens is the first step.
Encourage Open Dialogue: Create a safe space for teens to express their feelings.
Seek Professional Help: Don't hesitate to reach out to mental health professionals if needed.
Here are some credible statistics and research findings on adolescent anger and aggression toward parents (also known as child-to-parent violence, or CPV):
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๐ Prevalence of CPV
A recent metaโanalysis covering ~25,000 participants found that 34.8% of adolescents reported violence toward parents, with 10% reporting physical violence and 82.6% reporting psychological aggression.
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๐ง Characteristics & Risk Factors
Policeโreported CPV incidents (ages 10โ19): ~66% were male; ~48% aged 15โ19; 91% occurred in the home; 76% of victims were mothers .
Over half of young people involved had mental health diagnoses, and about 35% had substance abuse issues .
Research shows strong links between past parental aggression and adolescent aggression toward parents: each additional incident cited raised the risk of verbal, physical, and property damage aggression by **24%โ35%** .