“There Is No Part of My Life That Hasn’t Been Destroyed”: The Impact of Parental Alienation and Intimate Partner Violence on Fathers

Abstract

Previous research has demonstrated the profound negative impact of both intimate partner violence (IPV) and parental alienation (PA) on both the mental and physical health of fathers. However, considering the increasing arguments for PA to be categorized and examined as a form of IPV, there is an urgent need to explore the impact of PA as part of a broader pattern of IPV. This is a particularly relevant line of inquiry for fathers as men are largely invisibilized in research examining IPV. The present study analyzed qualitative responses to an online survey by 171 fathers who have experienced alienating behaviors within the context of IPV. Three themes were identified: impact on fathers (including health, finances, grief, identity, and relationships), perceived impact on children (including siblings and extended family, health and well-being, and loss of childhood), and impact on relationships with children (including lack of closeness, feeling responsible, and improvements over time). The impacts described by men are discussed in relation to the theoretical and practical relationship between IPV and PA, and the implications for support and help-seeking for men experiencing this form of abuse.