The AAFP Blog

Parental alienation, especially false claims of it during custody disputes, can have pervasive and long-lasting effects on children, extending well into adulthood. These effects manifest across various aspects of a person’s life, including their careers, relationships, and mental health. While conditions like depression and anxiety are sometimes minimized, their long-term impacts are significant and far-reaching, particularly for those caught in the middle of false parental alienation claims.

 Career Impacts of Long-Term Parental Alienation

Performance and Productivity: Emotional struggles tied to parental alienation often lead to poor concentration, decision-making difficulties, and reduced productivity at work. Clients may...

False claims of parental alienation during custody disputes can have profound and lasting effects on children, affecting their emotional, physical, and social well-being, as well as their family dynamics. The consequences vary depending on the child, the specifics of the family situation, the length of the legal battle, and the support available to the child. Here are some key effects of false parental alienation claims on children:

Emotional Effects of Parental Alienation

• Increased Anxiety and Stress: Children may feel immense pressure to align with one parent, leading to chronic anxiety, which may evolve into anxiety disorders.

• Depression: The emotional conflict of being torn between parents can result in feelings of helplessness...

Parental alienation is a highly complex and contentious issue, especially in family law cases involving custody disputes. It refers to a situation where one parent, often labeled as the "alienating parent," is accused of manipulating a child to reject the other parent, thereby eroding the child’s affection for and relationship with that parent. Whether real or alleged, claims of parental alienation can significantly influence custody decisions in divorce and separation cases, often with profound consequences for all parties involved.

In this article, we focus on how abusers use false claims of parental alienation as a tactic against victimized spouses. It's important to distinguish these scenarios from legitimate cases of parental...