An evaluation study of a parental alienation online support group

The Eeny Meeny Miney Mo (EMMM) Foundation founded an online support group for individuals impacted by parental alienation. The current mixed-methods study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the online support group in supporting its members. To achieve this, an online support group moderator participated in a semi-structured interview. Seventeen male and 23 female online support group members completed the Group Climate questionnaire, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale -21 item (DASS-21), Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) and Brief COPE (BC) Questionnaire at baseline (t1) and 3-month follow-up (t2). Participants’ SAM Challenge, BC Active Coping, Emotional Support, Informational Support, and Planning scores significantly reduced over a 3-month period. However, DASS-21 scores did not significantly change between t\(_1\) and t\(_2\). Qualitative themes revealed that the support group experience was very positive, supportive, and comforting. Participants reported obtaining psychoeducation, support, information, validation, understanding, and hope. Participants recommended increased online security and provision of other types of support (i.e., clinical and legal). In short, this online support group is a good first “port of call” for individuals experiencing parental alienation. Future recommendations include training formal peer workers for this platform and identifying ways to promote this online support group to adults who were alienated as children