April Spotlight: Stalking and Harassment in Child-to-Parent Abuse
Understanding Stalking and Harassment in Child-to-Parent Abuse
Parental roles are often associated with nurturing, support, and protection. However, a growing concern that remains under-discussed is child-to-parent abuse (CPA), particularly when it manifests as stalking and harassment. These behaviours can be deeply distressing, leaving parents feeling trapped and unsupported. Understanding the signs, impacts, and potential interventions is crucial for parents navigating this difficult reality.
While child-to-parent abuse often includes physical and emotional abuse, it can also take more insidious forms, such as stalking and harassment. These behaviours can include:
- Excessive monitoring: Constantly tracking a parent’s movements, demanding to know their whereabouts, or using technology to surveil them.
- Persistent communication: Repeatedly sending messages, making excessive phone calls, or harassing through social media.
- Intimidation and threats: Using coercion, blackmail, or threats to instil fear and maintain control.
- Invasion of personal space: Entering a parent’s private spaces without permission, interfering with personal items, or disregarding boundaries.
- Emotional manipulation: Guilt-tripping, gaslighting, or using psychological tactics to control parental behaviour.
Experiencing stalking or harassment from your own child can be emotionally complex. Parents often struggle with a mix of fear, guilt, and helplessness.
They may feel ashamed to seek help, fearing judgment or misunderstanding from others. The impacts can include:
- Mental health strain: Increased stress, anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress symptoms.
- Isolation: Withdrawing from social support due to embarrassment or fear of not being believed.
- Financial strain: If the harassment extends to financial control or coercion.
- Employment difficulties: Struggles with maintaining work due to stress, anxiety, or disruptions caused by the harassment.
- Socialisation challenges: Difficulty engaging in social activities or maintaining relationships due to fear, stress, or coercion.
- Physical health decline: Sleep disturbances, headaches, and other stress-related symptoms. Parents often struggle with a mix of fear, guilt, and helplessness.
Our recent survey on adult children who are abusing their parents, revealed that 29% of parental figures are being tracked by their child. You can read the report here.
If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking and harassment, support is available from specialist services . You are not alone, and help is available.
- National Stalking Helpline – 0808 802 0300 (Provided by the Suzy Lamplugh Trust)
- Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service – www.paladinservice.co.uk
- Victim Support – 0808 168 9111 (Free, confidential support for victims of crime)
- Refuge Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (For those experiencing domestic abuse, including coercive control)
- Samaritans – 116 123 (24/7 support for those struggling with emotional distress)
