Anxiety and Depression Among Target Parents of Parental Alienation
Date of Conferral
10-26-2023
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Psychology
Advisor
Michael Johnson
Abstract
Parental alienation has adverse and potentially devastating consequences on children and target parents. It often goes undetected or is misdiagnosed due to a lack of understanding of the phenomenon and its complex facets and dynamics. Dismaying behaviors perpetrated by alienating parents are often concealed and vehemently denied by them, other family members, and their legal team. Consequently, target parents can struggle in terms of various aspects of their life while losing relationships with their children. The purpose of this quantitative nonexperimental study was to use standardized tools to detect the presence of parental alienation and levels of anxiety and depression among this population. Appraisal theory of emotions was used as the theoretical framework. A convenience sample included 144 participants who were at least 18, engaged in ongoing custody battles, and believed they were being alienated from at least one child at the time of the study. Results from one-way ANOVAs indicated a statistically significant difference between those who reported having a court evaluation or court finding that determined parental alienation, and higher scores on the parental alienation scale. It was also found that court evaluations and court findings were significantly correlated. Results from multiple and linear regression analyses indicated that parental alienation was not a statistically significant predictor of anxiety or depression, and anxiety and depression were not statistically significant predictors of parental alienation. That suggests there are other factors influencing their onset. The findings have positive social change implications as mental health and legal professionals can utilize the results to better screen for parental alienation and help target parents better navigate their situation.
Recommended Citation
Cain, Anna, "Anxiety and Depression Among Target Parents of Parental Alienation" (2023). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 15019.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/15019
