Researchers from our Sociology Department have received a prestigious European award for their work on child-to-parent violence, highlighting the real experiences of families and the need for better support.
The study, led by Dr Nikki Rutter, has been recognised by the European Social Work Research Association (ESWRA) with its ‘Outstanding Publication in European Research’ award.
The prize celebrates high-quality research that advances understanding and has the potential to influence policy and practice.
The research explored how families seek help when children show harmful behaviour towards parents.
Working with partner organisations and a primary school, the team spoke directly with both parents and children.
Using a participatory approach, the researchers created space for families to share their experiences openly.
This allowed children, whose voices are often missing in research, to explain how they understand their own behaviour.
The study found that many families reach out for support early, but do not always receive the help they need.
Findings showed that parents are sometimes blamed for their child’s behaviour or advised to ‘wait and see’ rather than being offered practical support.
At the same time, children can internalise negative labels, seeing themselves as the problem rather than part of a wider situation.
The research highlights how current responses may unintentionally make things worse.
It calls for services to respond more quickly and with greater understanding of the complexities involved in family relationships.
By focusing on both parent and child perspectives, the study offers a more complete picture of this often-overlooked issue.
The ESWRA awards recognise innovation, strong research methods, and real-world impact.
The judging panel praised the study for its quality, transparency and for bringing children’s perspectives to life on a sensitive topic.
Dr Rutter accepted the award on behalf of the team at the ESWRA Conference in Aberdeen on 15 April 2026.
Dr Rutter previously received the Young Criminologist Award 2025 from the European Society of Criminology, highlighting her growing impact in this field.
Our Department of Sociology is ranked seventh in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2026. Visit our Sociology webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
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