Empirical research on parental alienation: A descriptive literature review

T.M. Marques, I. Narciso and L.C. Ferreira

Children and Youth Services Review, 2020, vol. 119, issue C

Abstract: Scientific literature has pointed to a growing body of empirical studies that contribute to an accurate mapping of parental alienation. This descriptive literature review of empirical research on parental alienation - in peer-reviewed scientific journals between January 2000 and December 2018 – seeks to characterize the research methodologies and to provide a summary of the main research themes. Several academic databases (B-On: Online Knowledge Library–Search, Ovid, ProQuest, Web of Knowledge, PsycINFO and Google Scholar) were systematically searched and the review followed the PRISMA guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Forty-three studies were included, the majority of them following a quantitative, retrospective and cross-sectional design. Parental alienation was mainly associated with divorce and child custody dispute contexts. Results also revealed the main themes targeted by empirical research: Development and use of assessment measures for parental alienation; Parental alienation patterns; Validation of the parental alienation syndrome construct; Parental alienation impact; Parental alienation viewed as child abuse; Professionals’ voices and maps on parental alienation. Limitations and recommendations for future research on parental alienation are discussed, highlighting common themes and research gaps.

Keywords: Parental alienation; Family patterns; Divorce; Systematic literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:119:y:2020:i:c:s0190740920319952

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105572

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