Current state of knowledge on child-to-mother violence : a literature review

Child-to-mother violence is a common aspect of family violence, and presents nurses and health workers with continuing challenges. Though noted in the literature as early as the 1950's, this phenomenon remains poorly understood. A number of reasons for the lack of research scrutiny are proposed, the most compelling being that child-to-mother violence has been framed within the discourse of juvenile delinquency rather than family violence. Thus, unlike other forms of family violence, it has escaped close examination by health and welfare workers. A literature review was conducted to examine current knowledge of child-to-mother violence. Study of the literature reveals only partial understandings of this neglected aspect of family pathology. Directions for research to address these gaps in knowledge are drawn from the findings of this literature review.