Affido dei figli e alienazione parentale: le conseguenze sul benessere dei bambini

This article examines how accusations of parental alienation (PA) made against mothers who are victims of domestic violence affect child custody decisions and the well-being of children. The study involved 132 Italian mothers who had experienced domestic abuse and were labeled as “alienating,” regardless of whether the term PA was explicitly used. Most mothers had informed professionals and law-enforcement authorities about the violence; 20% of fathers had criminal convictions. Nearly all children met criteria for “witnessed violence,” and many had also suffered direct physical (33%) or sexual abuse (18%). Before PA accusations, custody was shared in 71% of cases, and only 4% of fathers had exclusive custody. After the accusation, shared custody dropped to 53%, while exclusive paternal custody rose from 4% to 14% and placements with third parties increased from 3% to 18%. Notably, the father’s criminal convictions or documented violence did not reduce the likelihood of him obtaining shared or exclusive custody. When exclusive paternal custody was granted, mother–child contact was severely restricted: in 39% of cases it ceased entirely. The PA construct—originally proposed as a pseudo-clinical theory without empirical basis—continues to be used to discredit mothers’ reports of violence and to override children’s fears and statements. The study confirms serious psychological, physical, educational, and relational harms to children compelled to maintain contact with an abusive parent, as well as profound consequences for mothers’ mental health, safety, economic stability, and trust in the justice system. Findings align with international research and highlight systemic non-compliance with national and international standards, including the Istanbul Convention and Italian legal guidelines, which explicitly reject PA as unscientific. The authors emphasize that prioritizing “bi-parenting” in contexts of violence violates the best interests of the child and exposes families to continued abuse. The article calls for the prohibition of PA in family-law proceedings, mandatory professional training on gender-based violence, and custody decisions that prioritize child safety through exclusive placement with the protective parent.