Predictors of Child-to-Parent Violence in Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Child-to-parent violence (CPV) refers to persistent physical, psychological, or financial violence perpetrated by children or adolescents against their parents. Although CPV has attracted increasing academic and professional attention in recent years, evidence regarding its predictors remains fragmented. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize empirical evidence on the predictors of adolescent CPV, with a particular focus on developmental victimization, personality traits, and psychopathology. Violence refers to the intentional use of physical, psychological, or symbolic force to cause harm, control, or suffering, while aggression corresponds to intentional behavior aimed at harming another individual, which may or may not involve physical violence and is often broader and more situational.

A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and prospectively registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024596076). Searches were carried out in January 2025 across six electronic databases (PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL). Empirical studies published between 2000 and 2025 examining predictors of CPV in adolescence, namely developmental victimization, personality traits, and psychopathology, were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

The search identified 862 records, of which 46 studies met the inclusion criteria and were retained for full-text analysis. Most studies were quantitative in design and published within the last 15 years, with Spain accounting for most of the empirical evidence. The findings consistently demonstrated associations between CPV and exposure to direct or vicarious family victimization, maladaptive personality traits-particularly psychopathic features-and a range of psychopathological symptoms, including substance use, mood and anxiety disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions.

The results support a multifactorial and developmental understanding of CPV, highlighting early victimization as a central risk context interacting with personality and mental health vulnerabilities. Limitations of the existing literature are discussed, and directions for future research are proposed, emphasizing the need for longitudinal and qualitative studies to inform prevention and intervention strategies.