A psychodynamic exploration of Parental Alienation Syndrome Version1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A psychodynamic exploration of Parental Alienation Syndrome
IRAS ID
312944
Contact name
Elaine Quaile
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study is being undertaken as part of doctoral research with the University of Essex.
The purpose of this study is to enhance and develop professional knowledge regarding Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), a phenomenon characterised as the unjustified rejection of children towards one of the parents with whom the child previously enjoyed a healthy relationship, in the absence of any form of child abuse, which is usually induced by manipulation strategies from the other parent.
This study aims to address the lack of peer reviewed scientific research on the experiences of alienated children by offering a psychodynamic understanding of the contributions of the child in support of the alienating parent’s strategies and the impact these strategies induce on a child’s developing mind and psychological well-being.
Data will be derived from two sources:
Firstly, this study entails analysing therapy notes from three clinical case studies taken within the context of the child’s standard psychotherapy treatment offered by a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Service, within a single site Health and Social Care (HSC) organisation in Northern Ireland. Research participants are undergoing standard practice psychotherapy treatment during the study period (2021- 2024). Participation in the study involves giving informed consent for anonymised process recordings of standard therapy sessions to be analysed as the material for the research study. Data derived from the therapy notes is examined using an operationalisation method to explore whether a predetermined set of symptoms and key characteristics associated with PAS are observable in the notes.
Secondly, qualitative and quantitative data gathered from an online survey of the membership of the professional body The Association for Child Psychotherapists regarding therapist's experiences of offering therapeutic interventions for alienated children will be analysed using descriptive analysis to provide deeper understanding of the psychological, emotional and professional impact of this work on therapists.REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
23/NI/0007
Date of REC Opinion
3 Mar 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion