SIQUEIRA, Aline Cardoso; TUBINO, Carmela de Lima; SCHWARZ, Cristina    DELL'AGLIO, Débora Dalbosco. Perception of parental figures in institutionalized children and adolescents' support network. Arq. bras. psicol. []. 2009, 61, 1, pp.176-190. ISSN 1809-5267.

This study investigated the social and emotional support network and especially the perception of parental figures in institutionalized children and adolescents. The participants were 146 children and adolescents of age between 7 and 16 years, from governmental (18.5%) and non-governmental (81.5%) shelters of Porto Alegre's metropolitan area. A semi-structured interview and Five Field Map were used. The results indicated that 59.4% of participants have contact with their families. As for the support network, the Shelter field featured higher average of contacts and was considered the main source of support, while contacts featured in the Family field were perceived as closer. A difference in the perception of the parental figures was observed; the maternal figure was perceived as closer and more present than the paternal figure. The positive perception associated to the Family field and to parental figures suggests an idealization of the family and leads to a discussion on the distance between "lived" and "thought".

: Support network; Family; Parental figures; Institutionalization.

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