A registered social worker, professional counsellor, and academic affiliated with the Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), Oluwaseun Jegede, has said that parental alienation is a subtle but damaging form of emotional abuse capable of inflicting deep psychological wounds on both children and parents.

She emphasised that recognising parental alienation as a form of emotional abuse and domestic violence is crucial for healing, as “children deserve more than to be pawns in adult conflict.”

In recent research based on interviews conducted across three continents, she explained that parental alienation is not limited to high-profile custody battles or dysfunctional families but can quietly develop in seemingly stable households.

Jegede’s findings, derived from her master’s thesis on domestic violence and social interventions, revealed that emotional abuse could emerge in any family background or circumstance. She stated that parental alienation occurs when one parent unjustifiably turns a child against the other through manipulation, exaggeration, or lies.

She said the study advocates early intervention through family counselling, mental health support, and honest dialogue in safe and neutral environments. According to her, targeted parents must avoid retaliation and instead prioritise the child’s well-being.

The study, which involved interviews with three parents and three practitioners—including a UK mother, Nigerian fathers, a UK social worker, a Czech legal expert, and a Nigerian counsellor—highlighted alienation tactics ranging from vilifying the other parent to using children as pawns in adult conflicts.

One Nigerian father recalled, “My mother always told me how terrible my father was, even when I didn’t understand anything.” Another participant shared that they were punished simply for helping their father.

Practitioners reported that children affected by parental alienation often struggle with trust, self-worth, and forming healthy relationships.
“They grow up questioning their family bonds,” said a UK social worker. “That confusion becomes a blueprint for every future relationship.”

Long-term consequences of parental alienation can include academic difficulties, substance abuse, and distorted views on gender roles and relationships. A Nigerian counsellor noted, “A boy alienated from his father may grow up hating men. Or a girl might avoid marriage altogether.”

Parents targeted by alienation frequently feel powerless and isolated. “They look okay, but inside they’re broken, depressed, and hopeless,” one practitioner said. Attempts to reconnect with children often backfire, worsening the child’s psychological distress and further fracturing family unity. “We were supposed to be one family; now we barely talk,” a participant lamented.