Influence of peer victimization and self-esteem on child-to-parent violence perpetration

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship of peer victimization (both as victim and witness) and self-esteem with child-to-parent violence (CPV) towards mother and father, controlling for participants´ substances use and age. Alongside, the moderator role of the participants´ sex on those relationships was tested.

Eight hundred fifty five Spanish high school students (402 female and 453 male) aged between 13 and 20 years (M = 15.29, SD = 1.10) were surveyed. Information about CPV was obtained trough the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire (CPAQ). Sociodemographic data, self-esteem and peer victimization were assessed trough a self-constructed questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale (RSS) and the Violence Exposure Questionnaire (VEQ), respectively.

Regarding violence towards mothers, the results of the multiple regression analyses showed a relationship with suffering and witnessing peer victimization, along with lower scores on self-esteem. A moderating role of the aggressor’s sex over self-esteem was found, being the relationship of self-esteem with CPV significant only in the case of male participants.

With regard to the violence towards fathers, results showed a relationship with witnessing peer victimization, as well as with self-esteem. Again, a moderating role of the aggressor’s sex over self-esteem was found, the relationship with CPV being significant only in the case of male participants.

Results confirm the idea that both suffering and witnessing peer violence, as well as low self-esteem levels, have an effect on the probability of CPV perpetration, which differs according to the sex of the perpetrator in the case of self-esteem.