The report details the experiences of parents and caregivers with school-aged children who are displaying abusive behaviours, capturing how this affects both school attendance and family life.

Child to Parent Abuse can take many forms including physical, verbal, economic, emotional, digital, coercion and control and even sexual. Experts believe that between 3 and 10% of parents will experience this form of Domestic Abuse. 

Since they started providing services in 2020, PEGS have heard how some parents experience an increase in incidents of abusive behaviours during school holidays, whereas for others the behaviours decreased or even stopped altogether. PEGS wanted to explore this in more detail to gain a better understanding of what families were seeing and what support was needed during these times. 

Key findings from the report show that during the six-week summer holidays;

• 100% of the parents were being verbally abused by their child.
• Half the parents reported an increase in the frequency and severity of behaviours.
• Almost 80% were experiencing abusive behaviour on a daily basis 
• Almost a quarter of parents had to see their G.P due to physical abuse from their child, and 1 in 5 parents required medical attention from A and E departments. 

Other findings revealed the impact on others in the home, with 72% of parents saying their other children are being directly or indirectly impacted by the abusive behaviours their sibling is displaying. 

100% of parents stated that someone other than PEGS is aware of their situation, yet 43% said that other than PEGS support no other service has offered or provided any help. 

Out of the 79% of schools that are aware of parents being abused by their child, 14% of parents have had warning letters of intended action of fines for their child not attending education. Further adding to parents' feelings of blame, isolation, fear and worry. 

Parents were also asked what services they felt support would be most beneficial from, with 61% naming social care. 48% said Domestic Abuse organisations or other relevant charities, and a quarter of parents stated that support from their G.P. would be helpful.

You can read and download the report here.

PEGS will continue to raise awareness, provide support to those who need us, and deliver training to professionals.