The Parental Alienation Awareness Organization defines this type of abuse as, "the mental manipulation and/or bullying of children which can result in destroying a loving and warm relationship they once shared with a parent." Sadly, parental alienation is most often the result of two ... mature adults who resort to using their children as unwitting chips in a high-stakes game of post-marital revenge. [Source: The Mississuaga News (Ontario, Canada)]In many cases of parental alienation, the parents are so wrapped up in their personal lives and challenges that they don't realize the damage they're causing to their child - or to their relationship with their child. Parental alienation is an issue that divorced or separated parents need to be particularly aware of, though families who all live under the same roof are by no means immune to this problem.
Adolescents and teens who do not have positive relationships with their parents may be prone to a range of behavior problems and mental health concerns, including depression, substance abuse, and poor academic performance.
Labels: parenting, separation, divorce, abuse, alienation
Posted By: Aspen/CRC