Parental Denigration Boomerangs Versus Alienates: Parent-Child Closeness, Reciprocity, and Well-Being Using Multiple Informants

Objective To assess parental denigration, parents demeaning each other to or in front of their children, and whether denigration is one-sided or reciprocal, related to distance or closeness between parents and children, and associated with measures of children's well-being. Background The parental alienation hypothesis argues that denigration is one-sided and distances children from the denigrated parent. Parental conflict research suggests that denigration is reciprocal and distances children from both parents, particularly the more frequently denigrating parent. Method Convenience samples totaling 994 young adults and including 157 sibling pairs completed a structured measure of denigration as well as several measures of parent-child relationship quality and individual well-being. Results Parental denigration was measured reliably over time and between siblings. Denigration was highly reciprocal, linked to children feeling less close to both parents-particularly the one denigrating more often-and associated with a variety of measures of ill-being. Results held both within and between siblings and in the 1% of cases of unilateral denigration. Conclusion Normatively, denigration appears to boomerang not alienate. Children consistently report feeling less close to parents who denigrate more than to parents who are the target of denigration. Implications: Parents, and the professionals who work with them, must recognize the damage denigration does to denigrating parents' own relationship with their children. Findings also raise questions about alienation claims, which appear to be rare exceptions to the boomerang rule.