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Parental Bonding and Parental Alienation as Correlates of Psychological Maltreatment in Adults in Intact and Non-intact Families

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Abstract

Seven hundred and thirty nine (739) Italian adults completed a survey about (A) the extent to which each parent engaged in parental alienation behaviors (B) the extent to which each parent engaged in psychological maltreatment and (C) a measure of parental bonding for each parent. Associations between these variables were examined for each parent and separately for participants whose parents remained married and those who divorced/separated. Results revealed that across the board, parental alienation was associated with psychological maltreatment over and above the effects of parental bonding. These data are understood in the context of a relationship-specific model of psychological maltreatment in which the child experiences parental acceptance of the self as distinct from parental acceptance of the child’s relationship with the other parent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. PO Box 505, Teaneck, NJ, 07666, USA

    Amy J. L. Baker

  2. Department of Psychological Sciences, Humanities and Territory, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti, Chieti, Italy

    Maria Cristina Verrocchio

Authors
  1. Amy J. L. Baker
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  2. Maria Cristina Verrocchio
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Correspondence to Amy J. L. Baker.

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Baker, A.J.L., Verrocchio, M.C. Parental Bonding and Parental Alienation as Correlates of Psychological Maltreatment in Adults in Intact and Non-intact Families. J Child Fam Stud 24, 3047–3057 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0108-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-0108-0

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