Attachment for a group of Black South African children during apartheid.

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.