Rationale

CAPUCS is a cross-country and inter-disciplinary research project that examines coercive and controlling behaviors as domestic abuse and violence from the perspective of children and young people. Previously, coercive control has mainly been studied in adult relationships. The research project produces new knowledge on coercive control as domestic abuse and violence from the perspective of children and young people.

The focus of the project is on cases where the parent or step-parent has directed or directs coercive and controlling behaviors against the child and/or their other parent. Particular interest lies in the power practices of coercive control from the perspective of the child and young person

Aims of the project

The project offers originality as the first in its field to:

  1. Establish how coercive control from a parent harms key domain of children’s lives, including health, education and community participation.
  2. Explore how professionals can be better equipped to tackle these harms to children.

The research results increase knowledge on coercive control in the lives of children and young people and promote the recognition of the status of children and young people and providing them with help in situations of coercive control.

Working packages and research materials

The research consists of the following working packages:

  1. Identifying children’s experiences
  2. Mechanisms of coercive control
  3. Responding to and addressing coercive control in children’s lives

The research is based on the following research materials:

– A quantitative survey aimed at young people (Finland, Canada)
– Task-based interviews with children and young people (Finland, Canada)
– Court case files on stalking (Finland)
– Vignette-based interviews with professionals (Finland, Canada)
– Literature on familicide research
– A qualitative survey directed at professionals (Finland)

The data is collected by the University of Lapland, Finland and University of Ottawa, Canada.