• Although there is no legal definition of Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (APVA) this behaviour is often recognised as a form of domestic abuse. This is when a child or adolescent abuses their parent with violence, threats, aggression, control or damages property.

• Teenage anger and conflict between young adults and their caregivers is very common and normal. When there is a pattern of this abusive behaviour and the caregiver is intimidated or frightened of their child this could be described as APVA. It’s important to remember that children who behave this way are likely to have experienced domestic abuse themselves and as a result copy the behaviour they have witnessed.

• APVA affects the whole family including other siblings who may be physically hurt by a sibling or experience trauma as a result of what they have witnessed. Due to the complexities of this issue specialist support is advised. Family Lives is a UK based charity that specialises in this area of abuse.