Psychometric Properties of the Parental Alienation Scale - EAP

Authors

  • Paula Inez da Cunha Gomide
  • Claudia Nascimento Paleari
  • Pedro Afonso Cortez
  • Fernanda Otoni

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/

Abstract

Parental alienation is a phenomenon characterized by one parent engaging in behaviors that hinder and denigrate the other parent, thus affecting the child’s relationship with them. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the reformulated Parental Alienation Scale (PAS). The sample included 432 families involved in litigation, with information collected through an evaluator-administered interview script. Following data collection, the evaluator completed both the parent and child versions of the PAS. The parent version assessed three constructs: contact difficulties, exclusion of the other parent, and parenting behaviors during the assessment. The child version focused on behaviors related to rejecting the target parent and forming an alliance with the alienating parent. Results identified five factors in the parent version and two in the child version. The PAS provided evidence of content validity and internal consistency, supporting its use in assessing parental alienation in litigation cases.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Baker, A. J. L. (2020). Reliability and validity of the four-factor model of parental alienation. Journal of Family Therapy, 42(1), 100-118. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12253

» https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12253

Bernet, W., Baker, A. J. L., & Adkins, K. L. (2022). Definitions and terminology regarding child alignments, estrangement, and alienation: A survey of custody evaluators. Journal of Forensic Science, 67(1), 279-288. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14868

» https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14868

Bernet, W., Gregory, N., Reay, K. M., & Rohner, R. P. (2018). An objective measure of splitting in parental alienation: The parental acceptance-rejection questionnaire. Journal of Forensic Sciences, 63(8), 776-783. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13625

» https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13625

Brown, T. A. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research. Guilford.

Clemente, M., & Padilha-Racero, D. (2021). Obey the justice system or protect children? The moral dilemma posed by false parental alienation syndrome. Children and Youth Services Review, 120, 105728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105728

» https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105728

Cortez, P. A., & Otoni, F. (2022). Fundamentos em psicometria [Fundamentals in psychometrics]. In P. A. Cortez & M. C. Antunes (Orgs.), Medidas de saúde mental em pandemias [Mental health measures in pandemics] (pp. 17-30). Juruá.

Darnall, D. C. (2011). The psychosocial treatment of parental alienation. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(3), 479-494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.03.006

» https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.03.006

Dunn, T. J., Baguley, T., & Brunsden, V. (2014). From alpha to omega: A practical solution to the pervasive problem of internal consistency estimation. British Journal of Psychology, 105(3), 399-412. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12046

» https://doi.org/10.1111/bjop.12046

Gardner, R. A. (1985). Recent trends in divorce and custody litigation. Academy Forum, 29(2), 3-7. http://www.fact.on.ca/Info/pas/gardnr85.htm

» http://www.fact.on.ca/Info/pas/gardnr85.htm

Gomes, Q. S., Silva, L. D. P., Silveira, J. F., Cruz, R. M., & Vieira, M. L. (2020). Instrumentos de avaliação sobre alienação parental: Uma revisão sistemática da literatura. [Assessment instruments for parental alienation: A systematic literature review]. Contextos Clínicos, 13(3), 945-966. https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2020.133.11

» https://doi.org/10.4013/ctc.2020.133.11

Gomide, P. I. C., Camargo, E. B., & Fernandes, M. G. (2016). Analysis of the psychometric properties of a parental alienation scale. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 26(65), 291-298. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272665201602

» https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-43272665201602

Lei No. 12.318, de 26 de agosto de 2010 [Law No. 12.318 of August 26, 2010]. (2010, 27 de agosto). Dispõe sobre a alienação parental [Provides for parental alienation]. Diário Oficial da União, seção 1. https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?jornal=1&pagina=3&data=27/08/2010

» https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?jornal=1&pagina=3&data=27/08/2010

Lei No. 14.340, de 18 de maio de 2022 [Law No. 14.340 of May 18, 2022]. (2022, 19 de maio). Altera a Lei No. 12.318, de 26 de agosto de 2010, para modificar procedimentos relativos à alienação parental, e a Lei No. 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990 (Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente), para estabelecer procedimentos adicionais para a suspensão do poder familiar [Changes Law No. 12,318 of August 26, 2010, to modify procedures related to parental alienation, and Law No. 8,069 of July 13, 1990 (Child and Adolescent Statute), to establish additional procedures for the suspension of parental authority]. Diário Oficial da União, seção 1. https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?jornal=515&pagina=1&data=19/05/2022

» https://pesquisa.in.gov.br/imprensa/jsp/visualiza/index.jsp?jornal=515&pagina=1&data=19/05/2022

Lorandos, D., & Bernet, W. (2020). Parental alienation: Science and law. Charles C. Thomas Publisher.

Marques, T. M., Narciso, I., & Ferreira, L. C. (2020). Empirical research on parental alienation: A descriptive literature review. Children and Youth Services Review, 119, 105572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105572

» https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105572

McCartan, D. (2022). Parental alienation: An evidence-based approach. Routledge.

Milchman, M. S., Geffner, R., & Meier, J. S. (2020). Ideology and rhetoric replace science and reason in some parental alienation literature and advocacy: A critique. Family Court Review, 58(2), 340-361. https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12476

» https://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12476

Oliveira, R. P., & Williams, L. C. A. (2021). Estudos documentais sobre alienação parental: Uma revisão sistemática [Documentary studies on parental alienation: A systematic review]. Psicologia: Ciência e Profissão, 41, e222482. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003222482

» https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-3703003222482

Ramires, V. R. R. (2020). Avaliação psicológica de crianças que resistem ao contato parental [Psychological assessment of children who resist parental contact]. In C. S. Hutz, D. R. Bandeira, C. M. A. Trentini, S. L. R. Rovinski, & V. M. Lago (Orgs.), Avaliação psicológica no contexto forense [Psychological assessment in the forensic context] (pp. 229-246). Artmed.

Rowlands, G. A. (2019). Parental alienation: A measurement tool confirmatory factor analysis validation study. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 61(2), 127-147. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2019.1627162

» https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2019.1627162

Sîrbu, A. G., Vintila, M., Tisu, L., Stefanut, A. M., Tudorel, O. I., Maguran, B., & Toma, R. A. (2021). Parental alienation-development and validation of a behavioral anchor scale. Sustainability, 13(1), 316. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010316

» https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010316

Whitcombe, S. (2017). Powerless to parent; powerless to protect: The experiences of alienated parents in the UK. Maltrattamento e Abuso All’Infanzia: Rivista Interdisciplinare, 19(1), 47-66. https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2017-001004

» https://doi.org/10.3280/MAL2017-001004

Downloads

Published

2025-01-13

Issue

Section

Psychological Evaluation

How to Cite

Gomide, P. I. da C., Paleari, C. N., Cortez, P. A., & Otoni, F. (2025). Psychometric Properties of the Parental Alienation Scale - EAP. Paidéia (Ribeirão Preto), 34. https://doi.org/10.1590/