Attachment for a group of Black South African children during apartheid.
Date
2012-02-07
Authors
Chetwin, Francesca
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the attachment implications of early
childhood separations from parents or caregivers, of a group of ten Black South
African adults, who grew up during the apartheid era. Participants were asked to
report on their perceptions and experiences of their childhood separations during
semi-structured interviews. These interviews were transcribed and the data analysed
on two levels. Firstly, a thematic content analysis was conducted and six themes were
identified. The themes reported on childhood confusion, positive and negative
experiences of mothers, memories of separations, reports of experiences of feeling
different from other children, negative and positive experiences of fathers and men in
participants families, and lastly reflections on participants’ early life, their family life,
their own children and how their experiences impacted on them. Participants reported
that if they were unprepared for separation, or the circumstances were traumatic or
unexpected, the impact was substantial. Also, and in particular, if alternative
caregivers were unable to provide sensitive and responsive care, participants’
memories and constructions of these periods are replete with despair. Secondly,
participants’ narratives were analysed for coherence and tentative conclusions drawn
about adult attachment style or adult state of mind. There was evidence of participants
becoming noticeably less coherent in their narratives when speaking about traumatic
memories, particularly in relation to abuse, abandonment and neglect. Out of ten
participants, four presented their narratives in a manner that is suggestive of secure
and autonomous attachment, with overall coherence of narratives. Three participants’
narratives were suggestive of a dismissing adult attachment style, and the other three
were suggestive of a preoccupied adult attachment style. The second level of analysis
suggests that quality, stability and continuity in early caretaking relationships are
related to more secure and autonomous adult states of mind.