Examining parental denigration behaviors of co-parents as reported by young adults and their association with parent–child closeness.

Abstract

Over the past 30 years, number researchers have documented that interparental conflict predicts (predicts) adjustment difficulties among children from divorced and married families, as well as strained parent-child relationships. The conflict literature, reports of "parental alienation" behaviors, and clinical experience make it clear that some parents make disparaging comments about their coparent in front of their children. Very little empirical research has been conducted on the actual behaviors involved in what we term "parental denigration." Basic information is needed on how often denigration occurs, whether it is practiced by only one parent or both parents, and whether denigration adversely affects parent-child relationships. In the present study, 648 undergraduates completed a new, internally consistent measure of denigration as well as questionnaires about parent-child relationships. Results indicate that denigration (a) occurs infrequently but more often in divorced families, (b) is almost always practiced by both parents, and (c) is associated with less close parent-child relationships, especially with the denigrator parent. These initial findings underscore the need for more research on a construct that is studied rarely but frequently raised in custody proceedings and seen often in clinical work. This information will help bring awareness of these behaviors to courts, parents, and mental health professionals to best protect children from adverse psychological effects and help families function better in the midst of conflict.

Effects of parental infidelity and interparental conflict on relational ethics between adult children and parents: a contextual perspective

“…The current study's findings about the relationship between levels of interparental conflict and adult children's perceptions of relational ethics support prior research (e.g. Amato and Sobolewski, ; Riggio and Valenzuela, ; Rowen and Emery, ) demonstrating that participants’ reports of higher levels of interparental conflict were associated with poorer relationships with parents. In a study by Fosco and Grych (), adolescents who reported being triangulated into their parents’ conflict reported poorer relationships with their parents over time and increased self‐blame for their parents’ conflict.…”

“…Supporting the long‐lasting nature of conflict on adult children's relationships with their parents, Riggio and Valenzuela () determined in a study of Latino‐American undergraduate students that recollections of higher levels of interparental conflict were associated with poorer relationships with both mothers and fathers. In addition, Rowen and Emery () found a significant relationship between the presence of parental denigration – speaking in a demeaning way about a co‐parent – and adult children's reports of a lack of trust, poor communication quality, and emotional isolation in their relationships with both parents. Thus, parental conflict affects children in their youth and into adulthood.…”

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

“…Finally, denigration was moderately correlated with young adult children's ratings of conflict, suggesting that these are related but distinct constructs. Overall, these findings are consistent with previous work (Rowen & Emery, ) and suggest that denigration occurs across marital status and is important to assess in work with families, especially in the case of divorce.…”

“…Together with the results from a previous study of another large sample (Rowen & Emery, ), the present findings indicate that when one parent puts down the other to his or her children, the overwhelming effect at the group level is for children to feel more distant from the parent who makes disparaging comments. In short, denigration has a boomerang effect.…”

Parental Denigration: A Form of Conflict that Typically Backfires

“…The term “parental denigration” refers to one parent directly disparaging or speaking negatively about the other parent to, or in front of, his/her children (Rowen & Emery, ). This behavior is of interest for two reasons.…”