PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ATTITUDES TO LIFE SITUATION OF CHILDREN IN GUARDIAN FAMILIES

Abstract

The article presents the study aimed at analysis of the attitude of children who live without parental care to the life situation of guardianship. The study was conducted using a structured interview, which included such methods as “Attitude to a significant life situation” and “Family APGAR”. The study involved 150 children of school age, among them 48 children from kinship care families (under the care of grandmothers). The results of the study showed that the attitude to the life situation of children under kinship and non-kinship care differs significantly. This attitude is mediated by the degree of the role conflict with the guardian. The actual life situation is least favourably assessed by children under the care of grandmothers, especially if the family maintains contact with the biological parents of the child. The results indicate the importance of considering the specifics of the child’s life situation for effective support to guardian families.

Keywords

• kinship care families
• non-kinship care families
• children of school age
• life situation
• situational approach