ANSWER
From a nursing standpoint, John Bowlby’s introduction of attachment theory emphasises the need of strong emotional relationships created between newborns and their carers during early life phases. A child’s psychological, emotional, and social development is significantly influenced by these ties. Particularly in mother and child health environments, nurses can be rather important in encouraging behaviours that support safe bonding between parents and their children. Among these behaviours are sensitivity, responsiveness, attunement, and regular involvement.
Response and Sensitivity
Parents’ capacity to identify and interpret their child’s emotional and physical signals—such as hunger, fear, or discomfort—and react properly is known as their sensitivity. Conversely, responsiveness is the timeliness and fit of these reactions. A sensitive and responsive carer fosters emotional control and trust by helping a kid feel safe. Nurses can help parents identify and respond to these signals, such quick consolation of a screaming baby or gentle touch amid trying circumstances. Studies show that these habits help youngsters have higher emotional stability and less anxiety (Heo & Oh, 2019).
Attuning
Attunement is a parent emotionally matching with their child, acknowledging and supporting their emotions. When a child is angry, for example, parents who show composure and empathy show understanding and caring, therefore supporting the youngster. Parents can be taught by nurses how to reflect the emotions of their children using facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. This emotional synchronising helps a child’s emotional intelligence (Devacht et al., 2019) and self-confidence as well as creates trust.
Involvement and Compliance
Active participation is interacting with the child in happy, caring manner including physical contact, reading, or play. Developing consistent routines also helps a youngster feel safe as they provide structure. Emphasising the value of quality time, nurses can help parents to be emotionally present in everyday contacts. Additionally strengthening the parent-child relationship are techniques like pushing skin-to—touch or encouraging eye contact during feeding.
Useful Conventions for Nursing Practice
By means of teaching, counselling, and practical examples, nurses can promote these behaviours. Essential interventions are seminars on parenting techniques, one-on-one advice, and the distribution of tools catered to a family’s socioeconomic and cultural background.
In summary,
Nurses can help parents create safe attachments by raising sensitivity, responsiveness, attunement, and regular involvement. A child’s lifetime psychological and emotional well-being is built on these habits.
Heo, Y. J., & Oh, W. O. (2019). A randomised controlled experiment on parent engagement development programmes for parents on partnership, attachment, and infant growth in a neonatal critical care unit shows its efficacy. Journal of Nursing Studies Internationally, 95, 19–27.
2019 Devacht, I.; Bosmans, G.; Dewulf, S.; Levy, S.; Diamond, G. S.; Attachment-based family treatment for young adults housed in a psychiatric hospital. 40(3), 330-343 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy.
QUESTION
Based on the theory of attachment, what behaviors would a nurse attempt to stimulate when working with parent to promote health attachment?
Please include 400 words in your initial post with two scholarly articles