Alienación parental en la niñez. Una revisión bibliográfica.

Abstract

Introduction: Parental alienation is a psychosocial phenomenon that significantly compromises children's overall development in multiple dimensions of psychological functioning. Objective: To analyze the effects of parental alienation on children's mental health at the emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and social levels through a narrative literature review. Method: A literature search was conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and SciELO databases using Boolean equations, applying inclusion criteria for studies published between 2014 and 2024, and selecting 14 studies that met the established methodological parameters. Results: Parental alienation is a valid psychosocial phenomenon with a prevalence of 25-35% in conflictive divorces, increasing to 80% in high-conflict cases. The effects include emotional disturbances (95% experience emotional pain), cognitive distortions such as mental colonization, disruptive behavioral patterns, and impaired social functioning. Conclusions: Parental alienation represents a form of family violence with devastating consequences that persist into adulthood, requiring specialized interventions that combine judicial authority with systemic family therapy to restore damaged bonds.