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The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families
Abstract
Objectives: This study aimed to examine parental alienation in the context of divorce and evaluate its relationship with depression levels among adolescents aged 13–17 years.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional correlational study included 52 adolescents aged 13–17 years who were receiving divorce-related counselling services. Data were collected using the Parental Alienation Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory. The relationship between parental alienation and depression was evaluated using Spearman correlation analysis.
Results: A moderate, positive, and statistically significant association was found between parental alienation and depression levels (ρ = .608, p < .001).
Conclusion: Higher parental alienation levels were associated with greater depressive symptom severity among adolescents from divorced families. The findings highlight the importance of assessing parent–adolescent relationships and adolescent mental health together in post-divorce counselling.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
The study was approved by the Hacettepe University Ethics Committee (2019/25-05).
References
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- Baker, A. J. L. (2005). The long-term effects of parental alienation on adult children: A qualitative research study. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 33(4), 289–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180590962129
- Baker, A. J. L. (2006). Patterns of parental alienation syndrome: A qualitative study of adults who were alienated from a parent as a child. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 34(1), 63–78. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180500301444
- Baker, A. J. L., & Ben-Ami, N. (2011). To turn a child against a parent is to turn a child against himself: The direct and indirect effects of exposure to parental alienation strategies on self-esteem and well-being. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 52(7), 472–489. https://doi.org/10.1080/10502556.2011.609424
- Baker, A. J. L., & Darnall, D. (2006). Behaviors and strategies employed in parental alienation: A survey of parental experiences. Journal of Divorce & Remarriage, 45(1–2), 97–124. https://doi.org/10.1300/J087v45n01_06
- Beck, A. T., Ward, C. H., Mendelson, M., Mock, J., & Erbaugh, J. (1961). An inventory for measuring depression. Archives of General Psychiatry, 4(6), 561–571. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.1961.01710120031004
- Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Child and Adolescent Development
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
August 28, 2026
Submission Date
December 2, 2025
Acceptance Date
June 27, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 2
APA
Efe, S. İ., & Çetin, Z. (2026). The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, 13(2), 557-576. https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1808428
AMA
1.Efe Sİ, Çetin Z. The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families. HUFHSJ. 2026;13(2):557-576. doi:10.21020/husbfd.1808428
Chicago
Efe, Saadet İrem, and Zeynep Çetin. 2026. “The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families”. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal 13 (2): 557-76. https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1808428.
EndNote
Efe Sİ, Çetin Z (August 1, 2026) The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal 13 2 557–576.
IEEE
[1]S. İ. Efe and Z. Çetin, “The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families”, HUFHSJ, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 557–576, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.21020/husbfd.1808428.
ISNAD
Efe, Saadet İrem - Çetin, Zeynep. “The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families”. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal 13/2 (August 1, 2026): 557-576. https://doi.org/10.21020/husbfd.1808428.
JAMA
1.Efe Sİ, Çetin Z. The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families. HUFHSJ. 2026;13:557–576.
MLA
Efe, Saadet İrem, and Zeynep Çetin. “The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families”. Hacettepe University Faculty of Health Sciences Journal, vol. 13, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 557-76, doi:10.21020/husbfd.1808428.
Vancouver
1.Saadet İrem Efe, Zeynep Çetin. The Relationship Between Parental Alienation Syndrome and Depression Levels Among Adolescents Aged 13–17 Years from Divorced Families. HUFHSJ. 2026 Aug. 1;13(2):557-76. doi:10.21020/husbfd.1808428