Browsing by Author "Engström, Dan"

The purpose of this study is to find out in what ways mothers experience that the coronavirus pandemic has affected the interaction with their youngest child. I also wish to contribute to early childhood education by finding out how we can support children with an insecure, but organized, and disorganized attachment style and to find out in what type of way the parents wish to receive support in their parenting. Earlier studies show that the parent´s sensitive intonation to the child affects its security, the ability to regulate emotions, and the relationship with the parent. This is called attachment. Children with inadequate attachment to their mothers have a higher risk of developing depression-like symptoms. The child´s ability to mentalize develops in relation to the parent and is a prerequisite for the child to develop empathy and compassion. Children with a secure attachment style have a better ability for mentalization during childhood. The material for this study was collected through semi-structured interviews with seven mothers whose youngest child was born in the year 2020. The material was analyzed inductively based on qualitative content analysis. The results showed that the mothers believed that the coronavirus pandemic had isolated them from their everyday life. They felt more tired, more irritated, and had been forced into more flexibility than before. The mothers hadn´t felt alone despite the coronavirus pandemic since their partners had teleworked from home. Three of the interviewed mothers had regular contact with a psychologist or a psychotherapist during their pregnancy. Two of them had continued their therapy after the childbirth. One of the interviewed mothers showed indications of depression. All mothers described their relationship with their newborns and how their interaction took place during everyday life during the coronavirus pandemic. Five of the mothers showed indications of a secure attachment style and two of the mothers showed indications of flaws in their attachment relationship to their newborn. The mothers´ foremost expectation of the day-care staff was trustful and open communication, support in their parenting, and the supporting of their children´s social relations. To support the parents and the children´s interaction, it would be desirable that the daycare staff and the staff at the child health guidance clinics were educated according to the mentalization guide.