Information about the absent parent as a factor in the well-being of children of single-parent families

Socio‐genealogical connectedness, attachment theory, and childcare practice

“…Previous studies support this view. These investigations found strong correspondence between parental contact and the amount and quality of information possessed by the children about the absent parent (Owusu-Bempah 1995). These factors were, in turn, found to be closely related to the children's overall well-being.…”

“…There is ample evidence that a sense of connectedness is essential to a child's general well-being (see Brodzinsky & Schechter 1990; for a review and discussion). For example, Brodzinsky (1987) and Pannor et al (1974) draw attention to the state of confusion and uncertainty often experienced by children lacking knowledge of their natural parents or possessing only uncertain knowledge of them. They claim that this undermines the children's emotional security and self-concept, and leads to a confused sense of identity in adolescence.…”

“…Much of the empirical support for the relevance of socio-genealogical connectedness to children's adjustment derives indirectly from work with adopted children and adults (see Owusu-Bempah 1995). The only reported evidence which directly supports sociogenealogical connectedness comes from a study that investigated the eects of socio-genealogical information on the general well-being of children in loneparent families (Owusu-Bempah 1995). Through indepth interviewing, the study investigated how the amount and quality of information the children Socio-genealogical connectedness J Owusu-Bempah and D Howitt…”

“…These trends have been predicted to continue to rise (e.g. Bradshaw & Millar 1991;Goode 1992;Miller 1992;Roll 1992;Kissman & Allen 1993;Owusu-Bempah 1995), suggesting increasing problems of attachment and loss. In other words, the society in which Bowlby developed his ideas has changed remarkably, and so there would be much to gain from a re-examination of the intricate dynamics of attachment and loss and their eects on modernday children.…”

“…In fact, others have equated the damaging psychological eects of such behaviour on a child with those of sexual abuse (e.g. Melzak 1992;Owusu-Bempah 1995).…”