Redefining the Parent-Child Relationship Following Divorce

Abstract

SUMMARY Parentification is a term commonly used to refer to role reversal in the parent-child relationship wherein parents rely upon their children for emotional support. The construct has been discussed widely within the context of divorce as a parenting behavior likely to place children at risk for poor outcomes; however, rigorous empirical examination of parentification following divorce remains sparse. The present paper provides a new framework for considering parental support seeking, suggesting that the process of family restructuring may blur specific parent-child boundaries related to intimacy and power. We elaborate on this model as a mechanism for integrating family systems and developmental psychopathology perspectives and as a framework within which to conduct future research on parentification.