The perceptions of social workers regarding the relationship between sexualized behaviour and self-nurturing amongst children in middle childhood
Abstract
There are very few extensive sample studies that target normative versus pathological sexual behavioural problems. Debate exists around the role of attachment when treating children who come from chaotic backgrounds. Children from these backgrounds may lack the stability and predictability that they need in order to develop the appropriate skills to regulate their affects, understand and maintain healthy and safe relationships, and develop a strong sense of self and good behavioural control mechanisms. Because of a lack of knowledge regarding sexualised behaviour, social workers working with children in middle childhood may find it difficult to distinguish between appropriate and less appropriate sexualised behaviour in children in their middle childhood. It may happen that appropriate sexualised behaviour in children is labelled
as problematic, while the function of the behaviour may in fact be defined as an act of self-nurturing. The researcher has since asked the question about the link between sexualized behaviour and self-nurturing amongst children in children’s homes. The relationship between these two variables can have a significant effect on the way professionals view children who display sexualised behaviour in institutions where there is a lack of affection and significant attachment to adult figures. Children in middle childhood who display sexualised behaviour have specific needs that role players, specifically social workers, have to keep in mind in order for effective intervention to take place. If discrepancies exist in this area, it could impact negatively on the implementation of services rendered to these children. For the proposed study the collective case study design was the most appropriate design as the researcher collected and analyzed qualitative data by to doing semi-structured interviews. The semi-structured interviews were used to gain a detailed picture of participants’ beliefs or perceptions about, or accounts of the particular topic. Qualitative data was analyzed by means of planning for the recording of the data, managing and organizing the data, reading and writing memos, generating themes, categories and patterns in order to prove or contest a hypothesis. In order to ensure the success of the study, the researcher did a pilot study before the main
investigation itself and ethical aspects were adhered to by the researcher throughout the study.
Through the empirical study, it can be concluded that there is a significant relationship between sexualized behaviour and trauma that children experience. However, when sexualized behaviour as a nurturing mechanism becomes obsessive, compulsive and there is no balance, then only can it be viewed as a problem and should be addressed. It is important to remember that ‘sexual play’ should be seen as a normal part of childhood development. There was general consensus that sexualized behavior could be regarded as a self-nurturing mechanism. Focus was put on the needs of children and how it related to inappropriate sexualized behaviours and self-nurturing as a need in itself. It was recommended that there should be improved service delivery to children, who manifest with sexualized behaviour, training for professionals and lastly continual research on the subject. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Article
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Keywords
child abuse, child sexual behavior, sexualized behavior, risk factors, International Resources, South Africa, research
Citation
Greeff, L. (2012). The perceptions of social workers regarding the relationship between sexualized behaviour and self-nurturing amongst children in middle childhood. (MS Thesis) Pretoria, SA: University of Pretoria, (March 2012), 162 pp.