‘Child Conflict with Caregivers’ a new study exploring the child to parent violence and abuse in Wales.
This study aims to gain an insight into, and understand parents and carers experiences of conflict, violence and abuse from children who are under their care. Our current understanding of this form of family violence is significantly lacking. This means families find it difficult to get the support they need. We need more research into parents and carers experiences of conflict, violence and abuse from children who are under their care, so we can find ways to help support these families.
There is virtually no research in Wales. My project aims to add to this gap by gaining an insight into parents and carers experiences of child to parent violence and abuse. My research has been strongly influenced by professionals supporting these families, and parents and carers experiencing this form of family violence. I have found that not all caregivers are represented in the research. I hope this study will collect the voices of all parents and carers who experience child to parent violence and abuse. This will allow us to broaden and diversify the evidence base around what they need, to help these parents and carers.
What does the study involve?
Parents and carers are being recruited through services, social media and relevant networks, websites and forums. I am undertaking interviews with approximately 20 parents and carers who are experiencing conflict, violence or abuse from a child under their care. Participants are also being invited to do something creative before the interview, which can help them share their story – this can be a collage, drawing, timeline or something else. Parents don’t have to do something creative if they don’t want to.
I’d like to invite participants to help sense-check my interpretations of the data. I would also like to hold a knowledge exchange event towards the end of the study, to help highlight the voices of parents experiencing violence and abuse from children in their care, to positively impact change in policy and practice.
The study is part of my PhD research and is funded by the Economic, Social Research Council. My research advocates for all forms of caregiver experiencing conflict, violence or abuse from their child. I am a former domestic violence advocate and have worked in the area of family violence and abuse for 15 years. My research ethos is underpinned by trauma-informed principles and is person centred.
To find out more about the study you can email me, or scan the QR code below:
Bethan Pell
Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Intervention for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), School of Social Sciences, Cardiff University
