Sequencing events of child-to-parent family violence reported to police in Aotearoa New Zealand

Ms Bridget O’Keeffe¹, Ms Apriel Jolliffe Simpson^1,2, Professor Devon Polaschek^1,2

¹Te Kura Whatu Oho Mauri – School of Psychology, University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand, ²Te Puna Haumaru – New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science, University Of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Introduction: Family violence is a pervasive social problem that accounts for approximately two-fifths of frontline police officers’ time in Aotearoa New Zealand. In an effort to improve understandings of family violence and identify opportunities to prevent harm, researchers have examined intimate partner violence and child abuse. A considerable body of research exists about events where children are victims of family violence; however, we know very little about events where children are the aggressors. Method: In this study, we examined the characteristics of 52 cases child-to-parent family violence events reported to police in Aotearoa New Zealand. We qualitatively coded the behaviours within those events and used behaviour sequence analysis to identify significant associations between antecedents and consequences. Results: We identified a subset of significant antecedent-consequence relationships between behaviours in child-to-parent family violence events reported to police and presented those relationships in a figure. Conclusion: Finally, we discussed suggestions for how parents can deescalate conflict with their children, and how police should respond when they attend child-to-parent family violence events.

Biography:

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