‘I don't know what is autism, what is normal teenage behaviour, and what is naughtiness’: Conceptualising child and adolescent to parent violence in the context of neurodevelopmental difference

Abstract

This article presents findings from a UK-based qualitative study that explored parents/carers experiences of child to parent violence (CPV) from their child who has a neurodevelopmental difference. The study used semi-structured interviews with 15 mothers who were experiencing physical and psychological violence from their child, often on a daily basis. Findings show that parents struggled to make sense of the violence, often feeling conflicted between whether the violence was the result of their child's neurodevelopmental challenges, ‘normal’ teenage behaviour or, in some cases, their child's poor mental health. Parents also recognised the inappropriateness of common advice they were given to address CPV. The implications of these complex sense-making practices are discussed in relation to future research and practice.