The identification of alienated parents and children: Implications for school psychologists

Abstract

This study sought to determine which factors associated with parents and children were the best predictors of parental alienation. The levels of alienation of parents of 49 students in two selected fourth-grade classrooms in a Midwestern urban school district were assessed using the Dean Alienation Scale. The levels of parental alienation were compared with parent and child variables. High levels of alienation were associated with single, unemployed female parents, whose child was a female with few perceived friends. The degree of alienation was not related to the race, achievement, or attendance of the student. However, a weighted combination of the 12 variables was significant in terms of predicting the parental level of alienation.

Características de Estrutura de Personalidade de Pais e Mães Envolvidos no Fenômeno da Alienação Parental

“…A literatura tem apontado que as mães costumam ocupar o papel de alienadoras e suas características individuais contribuem para a ocorrência do fenômeno da Alienação Parental (Bala, Hunt & MacCarney, 2010;Berns, 2001;Clawar & Rivlin, 1991;Calabrese, Miller & Dooley, 1987;Dunne & Hedrick, 1994;Johnston, 2003). Nos três casos analisados, as mães mantiveram conduta alienadora em relação aos filhos.…”

“…As características individuais dos envolvidos no fenômeno da Alienação Parental têm sido mencionadas em alguns estudos, destacando-se uma maior ocorrência de mães no papel de alienadoras (Bala, Hunt & MacCarney, 2010;Berns, 2001;Calabrese, Miller & Dooley, 1987;Dunne & Hedrick, 1994;Johnston, 2003). As pesquisas apontaram características que influenciam na ocorrência do fenômeno da Alienação Parental.…”

School psychologists serving at-risk and handicapped infants, toddlers, and their families.

“…Psychological services may also include the identification of alienated parents and their young children (Calabrese, Miller, & Dooley, 1987). Encouraging parents to interact with service providers and be assertive with regard to their rights and the rights of their children may be a service role for this group (Turnbull & Leonard, 1981).…”