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Scientific Frontline: Extended "At a Glance" Summary
The Core Concept: A longitudinal analysis revealing that nearly one-third of young people engage in at least one act of physical aggression toward their parents between ages 11 and 24, with behaviors peaking in early adolescence.
Key Distinction/Mechanism: Unlike general youth violence which is often peer-directed, this aggression is specifically targeted at caregivers and is driven by familial dynamics such as parental physical punishment, verbal aggression, and inter-parental conflict. The behavior follows a specific trajectory: it spikes at age 13 (approx. 15% prevalence) and declines to a plateau of about 5% by early adulthood.
Origin/History: Findings stem from the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso), a study that began tracking participants in 2005. The specific results were published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry on January 19, 2026.
Major Frameworks/Components:
- z-proso Longitudinal Study: A long-term tracking project of over 1,500 participants assessing social development from age 7 to 24.
- Cycle of Violence: The observation that parental modeling of aggression (physical or verbal) significantly increases the risk of the child retaliating or adopting similar behaviors.
- Protective Factors Model: Identification of mitigating elements such as constructive conflict resolution skills and supportive parenting environments.
- Branch of Science: Developmental Psychology and Sociology.
Future Application: Development of early intervention programs focusing on emotional regulation and conflict resolution for children before school age, alongside parental training to reduce corporal punishment and improve family communication.
Why It Matters: The study challenges the social taboo and misconception that child-to-parent violence is rare or limited to specific socioeconomic backgrounds. It highlights critical risk factors—including ADHD and negative parenting styles—demonstrating that without early intervention, these behaviors can evolve into lasting patterns with long-term psychosocial consequences.
Physical aggression by adolescents against their parents is more common than many might believe, according to a long-term longitudinal study from Zurich. Among young people aged 11 to 24, physical aggression against parents peaks at 13, with approximately five percent continuing the behavior into adulthood.
Physical aggression by young people toward their parents occurs quite frequently – yet the subject remains taboo. Victims often struggle with shame and avoid seeking help, hoping to shield their children from repercussions. Now, in a first-of-its-kind longitudinal study, researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) have tracked the development of this behavior from early adolescence to young adulthood, identifying which factors increase or reduce the risk.
The research draws on the Zurich Project on Social Development from Childhood to Adulthood (z-proso), directed by Manuel Eisner, Denis Ribeaud and Lilly Shanahan at UZH’s Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development. The study tracked more than 1,500 participants from early adolescence into young adulthood.
A third are physically aggressive at least once
32.5% of participants reported at least one episode of physical aggression toward a parent between the ages of 11 and 24, for instance by hitting, kicking or throwing objects. This behavior peaks at age 13, when roughly 15% of respondents reported such behavior. Thereafter, the frequency of physical aggression toward parents declined and plateaued at around 5% by early adulthood.
“At first glance, it may seem surprising that one-third of adolescents become physically aggressive toward their parents at some point,” says Lilly Shanahan. “But these are mostly isolated incidents, likely during heated parent-child conflicts during puberty. For the most part, we’re not talking about systematic violence here.” Even so, Shanahan finds it concerning that two out of five affected young people reported aggressive behavior at multiple assessment points.
Parental conflict and ADHD among risk factors
What drives young people to lash out at their parents? Educational attainment and socioeconomic status appear not to play a significant role. “Child-to-parent aggression spans all social classes,” says lead author and postdoctoral researcher Laura Bechtiger. “It’s not limited to any particular social background or gender."
That said, researchers did identify multiple risk factors unrelated to whether the child generally has aggressive tendencies. Physical punishment and verbal aggression by parents increase the likelihood of creating a familial cycle of violence in which aggressive behavioral patterns are modeled and passed on. Additionally, when parents frequently clash with one another, their children adopt similar patterns of conflict. Young people with symptoms of attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder are also at greater risk, both because they often struggle with impulse control and may also be treated with less patience by their parents.
Conflict resolution and positive environments are protective factors
The good news: Certain factors can dramatically reduce the risk that adolescents become physically aggressive toward parents. Children who have learned how to deal constructively with negative emotions and conflicts show a lower tendency toward physical aggression. A supportive parenting environment, where parents are actively involved in their children’s lives, show interest, and offer emotional support, also lowers the risk. According to the researchers, early prevention could also lower the likelihood of later physical aggression.
“Conflicts between parents and adolescents are normal and even important for development,” explains Denis Ribeaud, co-director of z-proso. “Isolated outbursts during puberty should be reflected upon but are not necessarily cause for alarm. Patterns, however, are repeated physical aggression with increasing intensity is a warning sign, as are a lack of remorse and aggressive behavior extending outside of the family.”
Early prevention is key
At five percent, the share of 24-year-olds displaying physical aggression is comparatively small, but nonetheless significant. If physical aggression against parents is still being carried out in early adulthood, the risk increases this becoming a lasting pattern, with the corresponding psychosocial consequences.
Sociologist Manuel Eisner emphasizes the importance of early intervention: “Prevention needs to be aimed at both parents and children. Parents should learn to rely less on corporal punishment and to create a supportive, constructive environment within the family. Children should also be supported in learning emotional regulation and constructive conflict resolution, even before they start school.”
Published in journal: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Authors: Laura Bechtiger, David Bürgin, Gregor Ferolla Vasconcelos, Denis Ribeaud, Manuel Eisner, and Lilly Shanahan
Source/Credit: University of Zurich
Reference Number: psy020226_01