Meaning making and avoidance in parenting

Abstract

This article challenges the use of the concept of avoidance as dysfunctional in parenting, and questions research on parental coping practices in isolation from context. Sixteen parents with children with more or less behaviour problems were selected for analysis. The concept avoidance strategy constituted the analytical theme in situations associated with stress, and parents' meaning making was the focus of analysis. Parental coping is not only related to internal processes, but also to the risk or opportunities in the social systems. All parents use avoidance actions in various ways, which may also be seen as adaptive and proactive actions. The meaning of age, gender, living conditions, social support, and the parents' resources are significant in the framing of family life. It is significant to stretch the concept 'normality' to include more variation and diversity. By bringing in knowledge from 'normal' parenting processes into clinical practice, clinical cases may not always seem clinical.

Transitions to Adulthood of ‘At Risk’ Young Men: New Analysis from Two Norwegian Qualitative Longitudinal Studies

“…The data were analysed statistically (Solem, ). In addition, 16 of the interview transcripts were selected for qualitative analysis (Solem, , ). In 2015 three boys from the clinical group and two from the comparison group were followed up and interviewed at 16–23 years and their parents were interviewed (see Table ).…”

The Power of One: Why auto-ethnography, solo service-user voice and reflective case study analysis are useful strategies for researching family-centred social work practice

“…He notes that case studies are often criticised as not being able to offer insights or new theory beyond the actual case. He argues the case studies can contribute to theory and concept development as they are explored in great detail, and that case studies are ideal ways to present knowledge of human affairs because case studies are uniquely context-dependent and illustrate many meanings and themes around a given problem (Hammond and Cooper 2010;Mason 2013;Solem 2011). As with all One Voice strategies, case studies provide real life accounts.…”

“…Denzin and Lincoln 1998;McLaughlin 2012;Smith 2009). They will need to present their material in a logical format and enhance their accounts with appropriate literature and research material from the field of family-centred social work.…”