title: Best Interest of the Child and Parental Alienation: A Survey of State Statutes.
abstract: State statutes regarding the best interests of the child (BIC) in deciding disputed custody were reviewed and independently coded with respect to three issues (i) the child's preference and any limits (ii) parental alienation and (iii) psychological maltreatment. Results revealed that many states allowed for the child's preferences to be considered and none qualified that preference when undue influence has occurred; parental alienation as a term was not found in any state statutes but 70% of the states included at least one BIC factor relevant to its core construct of the parent supporting the child's relationship to the other parent; and many states included a history of domestic violence or child abuse but only three states explicitly mentioned psychological maltreatment. These findings highlight yet another way in which the BICS factors lack specificity in ways that could negatively impact children caught in their parents' conflict.
authors.affiliation: Vincent J Fontana Center for Child Protection - Research, 27 Christopher Street, New York, NY, 10014.
authors.forename: Amy J L
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Syracuse University, 900 South Crouse Ave., Syracuse, NY, 13244.
authors.forename: Mariann
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asayan
authors.affiliation: Stable Paths, 6255 SW 125th Ave, Miami, FL, 33183.
authors.forename: Alianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: LaCheen-Baker
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002669:Child Welfare; D017579:Domestic Violence; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010290:Parents; D013219:State Government; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
keywords: BIC; child's preferences; forensic acience; parental alienation; psychological maltreatment; statutes