This research suggests that the way parents perceive formal care, namely as being more or less family-centered, may influence the burden they experience as caregivers of a child with cancer and, indirectly, their adaptation. These findings highlight the relevance of gaining greater understanding of the interaction between the family and the health-care systems in the context of pediatric cancer.

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The term parental alienation refers to the negative influence of one parent over a child’s perception of the other parent (targeted parent). The aim of this research was to gain further understanding of targeted parents’ experience of parental alienation from their own perspectives. For this qualitative study, a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with eight participants aged between 33 and 51 years was conducted. The data from individual semi-structured interviews enabled the identification of four main themes: perception of personal impact, coping strategies, family relationships and support network. Parents identified a serious impairment of their physical and emotional well-being and mainly identified emotion-focused coping strategies to deal with this adverse ongoing situation. Furthermore, they reported changes in key relationships, with emphasis on difficulties in family and social contexts. The contribution of the findings to research and interventions with parents and families experiencing parental alienation are discussed.

Parental abduction of a child occurs when the child is removed, by one parent, from the custody of the other parent or legally appointed guardians. The absence of the child has a profound impact on family members and significantly affects their lives. Also, parental abduction of a child is a relevant social problem which calls for further understanding. The aim of this research was to characterize the experiences of left behind parents in the context of parental abduction of a child. The data for this exploratory qualitative study were analyzed through thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews carried out with eight male participants in Portugal. Participants' perceptions were organized around three main themes: the impact of this adverse event on different areas of their lives, recovery strategies, and perspectives regarding the future. Findings and their implications for professionals working with these families are discussed in light of the ambiguous loss and ambiguous boundaries frameworks.