Attachment styles in alternative care: a study with caregivers and children living in residential and foster care in Chile

This thesis investigates attachment styles in alternative care (AC) - both residential (RC) and foster (FC). Part I presents two chapters to highlight the number of children living in AC and the general move from residential to foster care across many countries. Furthermore, chapter one noted the lack of studies in less developed countries and that no study considers attachment in foster, residential and parental care in the same country. Part II presents five empirical chapters. Chapter 3 explored attachment based practices and managers' beliefs in RC (N= 17), highlighting these were associated with outcomes for children. Chapters 4 and 5 explore the experience of carers in RC (N=43) and FC (N=l4), reporting the extent of carers' emotional involvement in their relationships with children. Chapter 6 reports attachment styles in children living in AC and parental care (N=77); differences in attachment quality and other outcomes were found between AC and parental care, but no significant differences were found between RC and FC. Chapter 7 explores factors associated with attachment in AC (N=57); caregivers' sensitivity, responsivity and affection, and child:caregiver ratios were linked to secure attachments. Chapter 8 provides a general discussion of the results, with implications for policy, practice and research

Attachment styles in children living in alternative care: a systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND: A large number of children are currently living in Alternative Care. The relationship they establish with their temporary caregivers can play a significant role in their development. However, little has been published regarding attachment with temporary Caregivers. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to analyse the existing published studies regarding attachment styles in children living in alternative care (Children’s Homes and Foster Care). The review analyses rates of attachment styles and associated factors (including characteristics of settings, children and caregivers) in both settings. METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted searching electronic databases for peer reviewed publications in different languages. Studies considering attachment in children living in Children’s Homes or Foster families at the time of the study were included. RESULTS: Overall, 18 articles reporting 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. The results are presented in terms of characteristics of the studies, rates of attachment in different settings and possible mediating factors. Implications for practice and research are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Attachment styles in children living in alternative care differ from those observed in children living with biological or adoptive families, however several factors can mediate this outcome (including characteristics of settings, children and caregivers). Most research has been conducted in Europe and USA. Therefore, further research is needed in less developed countries in order to guide local policies for better care

“Getting Involved”:<i>a thematic analysis of caregivers’ perspectives in Chilean residential children’s homes</i>

A large number of children around the world are currently living in residential children’s homes and a central figure in those settings is the caregiver. The relationship children establish with their temporary caregivers can be a crucial factor in their lives. However, little research has been conducted with caregivers working in institutional settings regarding their experience and the relationship they establish with the children they care for. This article presents the results of a qualitative study conducted with 43 caregivers working in eight different residential children’s homes in Chile. The information was gathered through focus groups, and thematic analysis was conducted. The results show that caregivers report their experience of work and their relationship with children very positively and that this is characterized by their emotional involvement with children. This perspective appears to differ from that observed in large institutions in Europe, where there is some evidence that a more impersonal approach is predominant. However, it is acknowledged that this is based on caregiver perceptions which may or may not reflect cultural variations. The conclusion highlights the potential positive impact that caregivers can have on children’s lives, alongside some factors that negatively affect caregivers’ work, which could inform policy and procedures in order to provide better care for these children who (for various reasons) remain in residential care rather than family-based care. </jats:p

“Getting Involved”:<i>a thematic analysis of caregivers’ perspectives in Chilean residential children’s homes</i>

Belgium Herbarium image of Meise Botanic Garden

Reducing risk and improving maternal perspective-taking and empathy using virtual embodiment

The ability to perspective-take (cognitive awareness of another's state) and empathise (emotional/affective response) are important characteristics for sensitive, co-operative and constructive parenting, which assists in developing adaptive functioning for children. For the first time, immersive virtual reality was used to place parents in the position of a child in order to assess impact on perspective-taking and empathy. This novel study was conducted with 20 non-high risk Spanish mothers (a pilot study with 12 mothers is reported in supplementary files). Mothers were virtually embodied as a 4-year-old child, experienced from the first-person perspective and with virtual and real body movements synchronised. They interacted with a 'mother avatar', which responded either in a Positive or Negative way. Participants reported a strong body ownership illusion for the child body that led to cognitive, emotional and physical reactions. Experiencing negative maternal behavior increased levels of empathy. In addition, the Negative mother led to increased feelings of fear of violence. Physiological data indicated greater stress in the Negative than Positive condition. Although further research is required to assess the effectiveness of such methods, any improvement in empathy that leads to a change in parenting behavior has the potential to impact on developmental outcomes for children

¿Quién puede participar? Un análisis documental acerca de la participación de la infancia en cuidados alternativos

Child participation in protection systems is a fundamental right that entails multiple psychosocial benefits for children and adolescents. However, its correct implementation in protection systems is a challenge to be addressed. In Chile, research on child participation, particularly in the national child protection system (SENAME), is scarce. This study seeks to explore, under the model of meaningful participation, how child participation is considered in alternative care programs and their regulatory and legal frameworks, through a thematic documentary analysis. The findings point to a low level of definition of the concept participation in technical and legal regulations, and a tendency to assign children and adolescents to a passive role, leaving adults to define the moments and forms of participation. Some factors,such as the age of the child, which play a central role in making participation possible are analysed. In conclusion, meaningful participation is not guaranteed in its three dimensions (being informed, listened to and considered in decision-making) throughout the process, being relegated to isolated and variable instances depending on the different programs.La participación infantil en los sistemas de protección es un derecho fundamental que implica múltiples beneficios psicosociales para los niños, niñas y adolescentes (NNA). No obstante, su correcta implementación en los sistemas proteccionales es un desafío a tratar. En Chile, la investigación en participación infantil, y en específico en el sistema de protección infantil nacional, SENAME, es escasa. Este estudio busca explorar de qué manera la participación infantil significativa del NNA es considerada en programas de cuidados alternativos de SENAME y sus marcos normativos y legales, a través de un análisis temático documental. Los hallazgos apuntan a un bajo nivel de definición del concepto de participación en normativas técnicas y legales, y una tendencia a asignar a los NNA a un rol pasivo, donde son los funcionarios de cada programa quienes tienen mayor propositividad a la hora de definir los momentos y formas de participación. Factores como la edad del NNA parecen tomar un rol central a la hora de permitir una participación más independiente. La participación significativa no se garantiza en sus tres dimensiones a lo largo del proceso, y éstas se presentan de manera irregular

Children and childhood in Chile

English This study explores understandings of children and childhood among 21 social workers from five child protection services in Chile. To help grasp multiple ideas about children and childhood, we use Q methodology and the ‘child visibility’ concept. The object is to explore dissimilar and/or similar views on child visibility among social workers and the characteristics of these viewpoints. The results reveal three distinct views on child visibility. Based on the characteristics of these perspectives, we have conceptualized the workers associated with them as: activists, buffers and experts. The activists vigorously seek children’s own perspectives, and produce an image of capable children with unique perspectives. The buffers and the experts, however, typically define children’s needs from their own perspectives. Nevertheless, through differing logics, the experts focus on children’s vulnerability and protection needs, while the buffers are more inclined to view children in terms of their contextual risk and on the margins in an underfunded child protection context. Despite these differences, there are shared viewpoints among the social workers, for example, by understanding children as relational. The results are discussed in light of current theory within childhood studies. Spanish Niños e infancia en Chile: Perspectivas de los trabajadores sociales. Este estudio explora las concepciones que sobre los niños y la infancia desarrollan 21 trabajadores sociales de cinco servicios de protección infantil en Chile. Para comprender estas múltiples ideas, utilizamos la Metodología Q y el concepto de “visibilidad del niño”. El objeto es explorar perspectivas similares o diferentes respecto a la visión que tienen los trabajadores sociales sobre este grupo social, así como las características de esos puntos de vista. Los resultados revelan tres tipos de visión distintivos sobre los niños. Con base a las características de estas tres perspectivas, hemos conceptualizado a los trabajadores sociales asociados con ellas como: activistas, baluartes, y expertos. Los activistas buscan vigorosamente las perspectivas de los propios infantes y producen una imagen de que los niños poseen capacidades y perspectivas únicas. Los otros dos grupos, sin embargo, típicamente definen las necesidades de los niños desde sus propias representaciones. A través de lógicas distintas, los expertos se enfocan en la vulnerabilidad de los infantes y sus necesidades de protección; mientras los baluartes están más inclinados a ver a los niños en términos de sus propios riesgos contextuales, y en los márgenes de un contexto de protección infantil con financiación insuficiente. A pesar de estas diferencias, existen puntos de vista comunes entre los trabajadores sociales, por ejemplo, al entender a los niños en términos relacionales. Estos resultados son discutidos a la luz de las teorías actuales dentro de los estudios de la infancia