In this master’s thesis, I study adolescent-to-parent violence, which is an ignored form of violence and has been the subject of too few studies in Slovenia. In the introductory theoretical part, I review literature defining adolescence and violence committed by adolescents against their parents. I pinpoint forms of such violence and factors influencing the outbreak of violence. I define work methods used by professional workers when working with families. In the end, I summarise applicable legislation in Slovenia covering violence committed by adolescents against their parents and services intervening in the event of such violence.
In the empirical part, I mainly try to study the work of professional workers at social work centres when addressing such violence, what forms of violence they come across, how work at social work centres is done, what resolution methods they use and what institutions they cooperate with in this process.
The results of the study show that violence committed by adolescents against their parents is increasing. The most common forms of violence are psychological harassment and physical violence. Social work centres are most often informed about such violence by the police as well as educational and healthcare institutions. What is more, parents also feel increasingly encouraged to seek help. The most common factors for the outbreak of violence are upbringing methods, the influence of psychoactive substances, the influence of the environment where adolescents live, emotional and mental disorders and domestic violence. Professional workers talk to parents and adolescents, offer them support and propose additional support and assistance programmes. They highlight the problematic lack of personnel and time for work, occasional non-cooperation of certain institutions and the need for additional training.
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