Nevard Imogen, Gellatly Judith, Brooks Helen, Bee Penny
Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, School of Health Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Front Psychol. 2024 Jul 23;15:1383532. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1383532. eCollection 2024.
Social networks, defined as the set of active and significant ties surrounding an individual, influence the wellbeing of vulnerable children. The best evidenced mechanism through which this occurs is where networks act as a vehicle to access social support. Little is known about the content and function of social networks of children of parents with severe and enduring mental illness (COPMI). COPMI are a frequently under-identified vulnerable child population at risk of negative outcomes. This qualitative study investigates the structure, role and function of these children's networks.
Researchers conducted 17 semi-structured egocentric social network interviews. Interviews incorporated personal network mapping as a data collection method. COPMI were recruited through third sector organizations and interviewed across three sites in England. Data was analyzed using an inductive thematic analysis.
Five network features were identified (i) parents as primary providers of support (i) limited networks and diminished connections over time (iii) substitutable ties (formal and informal) (iv) peer connections as source of both support and strain (v) coping strategies: self-censorship, avoidance and animals.
Children of parents with severe and enduring mental illness networks are structurally typical of vulnerable children in that they are limited, rely on parents as primary ties but allow for some substitution of support ties. COPMI-specific features included peer relationships at times as source of strain and network level coping strategies used to manage wellbeing, including pets. This latter reflects previous findings in vulnerable adult populations so far unevidenced in children. Little evidence as to the mechanistic effect at work within networks was collected. However, COPMI were clearly shown to be engaged in active management and strategising in network navigation approaches, indicating the need to engage with children in this capacity, rather than approaching them as passive recipients of support. As such, effective network level interventions for this group are likely to prioritize access to beneficial substitute ties when support is limited. Additionally, interventions that promote network navigation skills and help foster productive coping strategies can capitalize on the child's active management role within their network.
社交网络被定义为围绕个体的一系列活跃且重要的关系，它会影响弱势儿童的幸福安康。社交网络产生这种影响的最有力证据机制是其作为获取社会支持的一种途径。对于患有严重且持续性精神疾病的父母的子女（COPMI）的社交网络的内容和功能，我们知之甚少。COPMI是一类经常未被识别的弱势儿童群体，面临负面后果的风险。这项定性研究调查了这些儿童社交网络的结构、角色和功能。
研究人员进行了17次半结构化的以自我为中心的社交网络访谈。访谈将个人网络映射作为一种数据收集方法。通过第三部门组织招募了COPMI，并在英格兰的三个地点进行了访谈。使用归纳主题分析法对数据进行了分析。
确定了五个网络特征：（i）父母是主要的支持提供者；（ii）网络有限且随着时间推移联系减少；（iii）可替代的关系（正式和非正式的）；（iv）同伴关系既是支持的来源也是压力的来源；（v）应对策略：自我审查、回避和借助动物。
患有严重且持续性精神疾病的父母的子女的社交网络在结构上是弱势儿童社交网络的典型，即它们有限，依赖父母作为主要关系，但允许一些支持关系的替代。特定于COPMI的特征包括同伴关系有时是压力的来源以及用于管理幸福安康的网络层面的应对策略，包括借助宠物。后者反映了之前在弱势成年人群体中的研究发现，而目前在儿童中尚未得到证实。关于社交网络内部起作用的机制效应的证据很少。然而，COPMI被明确证明在网络导航方法中积极进行管理和策略制定，这表明需要以这种能力与儿童接触，而不是将他们视为支持的被动接受者。因此，针对该群体有效的网络层面干预措施可能会在支持有限时优先考虑获得有益的替代关系。此外，促进网络导航技能并帮助培养有效应对策略的干预措施可以利用儿童在其社交网络中的积极管理角色。
