Significados y representaciones sociales atribuidos a los miedos de los hijos: Promoción de la parentalidad positiva

Abstract

Objective: Know the social representations and the meanings attributed to children's fears by the parents, for delineate interventions that promote positive parenting in this area of child development difficulties. Method: descriptive study based on Meleis' Theory of Transitions and Abric's Theory of Social Representations. A diagnostic evaluation was performed between May and June of 2019, using a free word evocation through the stimulus inductor -children's and adolescents' fears. The sample consisted of 143 parents of children ≤ 18 years. Results: the meanings were identified by the position in the central and peripheral nucleus, which helped in the categorization of six types of parenting: parenting in distress, parenting with difficulties, positive parenting, attentive parenting, concerned parenting, and disconnected parenting. Conclusions: The project for positive parenting promotion in relation to children's fears based on the knowledge of the meanings attributed allowed not only to understand the dimension of the problem, but also to develop appropriate interventions and materials, as well as indicate the best approach to promote positive parenting in relation to children's fears.