Formation and disruption of bonds between caregivers and institutionalized children

Abstract

Objective: to understand the perspective of caregivers about the formation and disruption of bonds with institutionalized children.

Method: a qualitative research that used as a theoretical framework the Attachment Theory and the Symbolic Interactionism, and the Grounded Theory as methodological framework. Participating in the study were 15 female caregivers of children aged zero to three years, from a child care institution in the south of Brazil, from April to July 2015.

Results: three categories were elaborated: "Experiencing the formation of bond and attachment"; "Disrupting with the established bonds and detaching"; "Learning how to work with formation and disruption of bond".

Final considerations: we need to think of ways to minimize the negative effects formation and disruption of bonds. In this sense, active listening and the offer of psychological support favor the sharing of experiences and the emotional strengthening of the female caregivers.