Characterization of Care Practices in Colombian Families with Children in Early Childhood in a Situation of Forced Displacement
摘要
The purpose of the study was to characterize the main caregiver’s parenting practices in terms of care quality, disciplinary practices, early child-caregiver attachment relationships, and child development in ten case dyads (caregiver-child), in a situation of forced displacement due to internal armed conflict in Colombia with children in early childhood. The design was an explanatory mixed method with observational instruments derived from Attachment Theory and self-report measures. Significant associations were found between caregiver sensitivity and child development (r = 0.63, p < 0.05), between child attachment and maternal care domains (r = 0.91, p < 0.01), and moderate disciplinary practices negatively associated with child attachment security (r = −0.88, p < 0.01). Following the methodological principles of Grounded Theory, emerging categories were obtained on intergenerational transmission of parenting patterns and child care practices. The results allow the identification of some protective factors (reflective processes regarding the use of inadequate parenting patterns) and risk factors (maintenance of physical punishment practices, especially with girls).