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Implications of homelessness for parenting young children: A preliminary review from a developmental attachment perspective
Author(s) -
David Daryn H.,
Gelberg Lillian,
Suchman Nancy E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/imhj.20333
Subject(s) - psychology , perspective (graphical) , developmental psychology , intervention (counseling) , viewpoints , autonomy , compromise , psychiatry , sociology , art , visual arts , social science , artificial intelligence , computer science , political science , law
Although it has been well‐documented that parents and children who experience homelessness often have compromised health and well‐being, few studies have examined the potential implications of homelessness on the process of parenting young children. In this review, we consider how parents of young children might function under the circumstances of homelessness. We begin with a brief overview of the psychological, social, and medical characteristics of homeless mothers and their young children. Using a developmental attachment perspective, we next briefly review the central tasks of parenting during the first 5 years of life, including emotion regulation and fostering of child autonomy, with an eye toward how homelessness may compromise a mother's ability to complete these tasks. Finally, we provide suggestions for further research that incorporate a developmental attachment perspective and other relevant viewpoints. Because of the paucity of research in this area, our review seeks to provide a heuristic framework for future research, intervention development, and policy.