ATTACHMENT BEHAVIOR, SOCIO-CULTURAL ASPECTS AND CAREGIVING BEHAVIOR OF INTERNALLY DISPLACED MOTHERS IN BURKINA FASO

Abstract

Terrorist attacks and population displacement are potentially traumatic experiences for victims, and specifically for mothers and their infants or children. In addition, caring behaviors in the face of attachment behaviors depend on socio-cultural representations of the parent-child attachment relationship. The child's attachment behavior consists of strategies for seeking security responses from parental caregivers, underpinned by the child's expectations of availability, closeness and comfort. However, caregiving behaviours are learned and internalized according to the socio-cultural frameworks of the caregivers and the experiences of traumatic events such as terrorist attacks, which weaken parent-child emotional relationships. Using a semi-directive interview, we explored the attachment and caregiving behaviours of two internally displaced mothers, taking into account the influence of socio-cultural representations that influence the quality of caregiving. The study revealed that the mothers, faced with their children's need for security, adopted contrasting caregiving behaviours: a certain unavailability in the face of the child's calls, and excessive overprotection. These behaviours are linked to the traumas suffered during displacement, but are also influenced by socio-cultural representations.