This research is an attempt to investigate to what degree society, as represented by a selected group of married women, is accepting the role of the working wife and mother, and to what degree the traditional definition still prevails in the minds of two generations of women.

Since the beginning of the Global War on Terror, almost three million children, spouses, and adult dependents have been directly affected by the deployment experiences of more than two million service members. This study examined the applicability of the Contextual Model of Family Stress (Boss, 2002) to a reintegrating military family sample (N = 228) by assessing the effects of external, military-related contextual factors (i.e., rank, component, combat exposure, length of time home post-deployment, and cumulative length of deployments) and internal contextual factors of boundary ambiguity and family and deployment-related ambivalence on family functioning. Quantitative data were taken from a national survey of service members from multiple branches of the United States military. A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that, as a whole, the addition of the military-related contextual factors, boundary ambiguity, and the ambivalence variables made a significant contribution to the prediction of family functioning, controlling for all previously entered variables. Service members from lower ranks and those who had been home for longer periods of time reported poorer family functioning. Higher degrees of boundary ambiguity and family ambivalence were also associated with poorer family functioning. The results from this study extend existing theoretical applications of the Contextual Model (Boss, 2002) to military families through the incorporation of boundary ambiguity and ambivalence. Findings will also inform interventions aimed at promoting family resilience in the military population during the post-deployment period. / Ph. D.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to identify family resilience qualities that families use to adapt after a member has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Family resilience refers to the family’s ability to adjust and adapt after a crisis. A secondary aim of this study was to determine whether there are significant differences between groups with regard to biographical variables (i.e. relationship to the ill member, home language, racial groups, family structure, and annual household income) and potential resilience variables. The primary theory utilised in this study was proposed by McCubbin and McCubbin (1996a), namely the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation, and the secondary theory utilised is the Family Resilience Framework described by Walsh (2012). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed in order to answer the research question. Data were collected from 51 participants, who represented 42 families. Families were recruited from three support groups within the Western Cape, South Africa. Qualitative data were obtained through an open-ended question in which the participant was asked to indicate the strengths and resources used by the family to adapt after a member had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Resilience qualities within the qualitative data were identified through a process of thematic theme analysis. Quantitative data were collected using seven self-report questionnaires, which collectively gave an indication of possible family resilience qualities within the family. Quantitative data were analysed using a mixed model repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), Pearson’s product-moment correlations, and a bestsubset regression analysis. Ten statistically significant correlations were found between independent variables and family adaptation. Nine of these variables had a significant positive correlation with family adaptation, namely family income; the degree to which the family finds support in their community; special events and family time; the style of communication during crises; positive communication patterns during crises; family hardiness; the ability of the family to work together and their internal strengths; positive reframing and ability to learn; and the internal locus of control within families. Only one negative correlation with family adaptation was found, namely incendiary communication during times of crisis. The quantitative results were compared with the qualitative themes, and additional findings from the qualitative data were reported. An additional theme that emerged from the qualitative analyses was factors relating to the diagnosed family member, and a subtheme, namely passive appraisal of a crisis. Differences were also found between groups with regard to the measured variables. It is evident from the findings that the identified qualities and resources may be used in interventions to strengthen other families in which a member has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die primêre doel van hierdie studie was om gesinsveerkragtigheidskenmerke te identifiseer wat gesinne gebruik om aan te pas nadat ’n gesinslid met skisofrenie gediagnoseer is. Gesinsveerkragtigheid verwys na die gesin se vermoë om verstellings te maak en aan te pas ná ’n krisis. ’n Sekondêre doelstelling van hierdie studie was om vas te stel of daar beduidende verskille tussen groepe is ten opsigte van biografiese veranderlikes (verhouding met gediagnoseerder lid, huistaal, ras, gesinstruktuur, en jaarlikse huishoudelike inkomste) en potensiële veerkragtigheidsveranderlikes. Die primêre teorie onderliggend aan hierdie studie is dié van McCubbin en McCubbin (1996a), naamlik die “Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation”. Die sekondêre teorie wat gebruik is, is die “Family Resilience Framework” beskryf deur Walsh (2012). Kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data is ingesamel en ontleed ten einde die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord. Data is vanaf 51 deelnemers wat 42 gesinne verteenwoordig het, ingesamel. Gesinne is verkry by drie ondersteuningsgroepe in die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Kwalitatiewe data is met ’n oop-einde vraag ingesamel waarin die deelnemende gesinslid gevra is om in sy/haar eie woorde te beskryf watter hulpbronne/kwaliteite/eienskappe die gesin as ’n eenheid gebruik het om aan te pas nadat die lid met skisofrenie gediagnoseer is. Veerkragtigheidseienskappe in die kwalitatiewe data is deur ’n proses van tematiese tema-ontleding geïdentifiseer. Kwantitatiewe data is met behulp van sewe self-rapporteringsvraelyste ingesamel wat gesamentlik ’n aanduiding verskaf van moontlike gesinsveerkragtigheidseienskappe. Kwantitatiewe data is met behulp van gemengde-model herhaalde metings variansieontleding (ANOVA), Pearson produkmomentkorrelasies, en beste-substel regressieontledings ontleed. Tien statisties beduidende korrelasies is tussen onafhanklike veranderlikes en gesinsaanpasbaarheid gevind. Nege van hierdie veranderlikes het ’n positiewe korrelasie met gesinsaanpasbaarheid gehad, naamlik gesinsinkomste; die mate waartoe gesinne ondersteuning van hul gemeenskap kry; spesiale geleenthede en gesinstyd; die kommunikasiestyl tydens ’n krisis; positiewe kommunikasie-patrone tydens ’n krisis; gesinsgehardheid; die vermoë van die gesin om saam te werk en hulle interne sterktes; positiewe herformulering en die vermoë om te leer; en ’n interne lokus van kontrole binne die gesin. Slegs een negatiewe korrelasie met gesinsaanpasbaarheid is gevind, naamlik die gebruik van opruiende kommunikasie. Die kwanitatiewe resultate is met die kwalitatiewe temas vergelyk en bykomende bevindinge vanuit die kwalitatiewe data is gerapporteer. ’n Bykomende tema wat in die kwalitatiewe ontledings na vore gekom het, is kenmerke van die gediagnoseerde gesinslid, asook ’n subtema, naamlik passiewe aanvaarding van ’n krisis. Verskille tussen groepe is ook vir die gemete veranderlikes gevind. Dit volg uit die bevindinge dat die geïdentifiseerde kenmerke en hulpbronne in intervensies gebruik kan word om ander gesinne waarin ’n lid met skisofrenie gediagnoseer is, te versterk.

The increasing number of children who have reentered foster care is a pervasive problem today. The present study examined the recovery of substance-dependent parents and the length of time between reunification and a maltreatment recurrence event.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the current study was to investigate factors that help single-parent families cope with the news that a family member has been diagnosed with HIV. The theoretical model that underpinned the study is the Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation of McCubbin and McCubbin (1996). A salutogenic perspective offers a view of human suffering that moves away from pathology to focus on factors that support successful coping, hence the focus of the current study on resilience. A cross-sectional survey research design was used, incorporating a combination method inclusive of both a qualitative and quantitative component. A total of 109 families, represented by an adult and a child, answered a qualitative question about what they considered to have helped them cope, and completing a biographical questionnaire and five questionnaires based on the theoretical model. Analyses included the Grounded Theory Method, a qualitative analysis method of Strauss and Corbin (1994; 1998), Pearson correlations and ANOVAs (for a categorical independent variable – employment status) to compute the significance of correlations between a dependent variable and a number of independent variables, and regression analysis. The results of the qualitative investigation revealed that families considered internal strength (or hardiness), social supports, communication, a sense of hope, using denial (both positive and negative behaviours to get on with life despite the presence of hardship), changing or reframing thoughts about the stressor, and material support to have been helpful. The quantitative results supported the qualitative results and showed that family hardiness (working together, viewing stressors as challenges and having a belief in own coping abilities), the availability of social support, supportive communication, use of reframing, accepting help from others and spiritual support all contributed to families functioning well under adverse conditions. It was also shown that inflaming types of communication, such as fighting and doing nothing about a crisis situation, negatively influenced the family functioning. It was interesting to note that family size had a significant, positive correlation with the parents’ views of family functioning, and that the higher the children’s level of education, the lower they rated their family functioning to be. Recommendations for further studies include a focus on resilience in various family types, a focus on families successfully coping with HIV diagnoses in their families, and the development of intervention programmes, inclusive of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van die huidige studie was om ondersoek in te stel na faktore wat enkelouer gesinne met ‘n MIV-gediagnoseerde gesinslid ondersteun het. Die studie is teoreties gebou op McCubbin en McCubbin (1996) se Resiliency Model of Family Stress, Adjustment and Adaptation. Salutogenese bied ‘n siening of waardering van die manier waarop mense terugslae hanteer wat weg beweeg van die tradisionele fokus op patologie om te fokus op faktore wat suksesvolle aanpassing ondersteun ten spyte van die teenwoordigheid van genoemde krisis. Hierdie benadering bepaal dus die fokus op veerkragtigheid of gesinsveerkragtigheid wat hierdie studie rig. ’n Deursnee- steekproefontwerp is vir die navorsing gebruik en het ‘n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe komponent ingesluit. ‘n Totaal van 109 gesinne is bestudeer, elk deur een volwassene en een kind verteenwoordig. Die deelnemers het ‘n kwalitatiewe vraag beantwoord oor wat hulle as ondersteunend ten opsigte van hulle eie krisishantering beskou het, en het ook ‘n biografiese vraelys en vyf vraelyste wat verskillende aspekte van die teoretiese model gemeet het, voltooi. Die deelnemers se response is ontleed deur middel van Strauss en Corbin (1994; 1998) se Grounded Theory Method vir die kwalitatiewe komponent; Pearson se korrelasies en ANOVA’s (ten opsigte van ‘n katogoriese onafhanklike veranderlike – werkstatus) is gebruik om die korrelasies tussen die afhanklike en ‘n aantal onafhanklike veranderlikes te bereken en regressie-ontledings is gedoen. Die kwalitatiewe resultate het aangedui dat die volgende faktore deur die gesinne beskou is as ondersteunend van hulle vermoë om krisisse te hanteer: innerlike sterkte, sosiale ondersteuning, kommunikasie, ‘n gevoel van hoop, die gebruik van ontkenning (beide positiewe en negatiewe gedrag om met die lewe aan te gaan ten spyte van die swaarkry), verandering van of herbesinning oor die stressor, en materiële ondersteuning. Die kwantitatiewe bevindinge het die kwalitatiewe resultate ondersteun en getoon dat gesinsgehardheid (saamwerk, beskouing van stressors as uitdagings en ‘n vertroue in eie vermoëns), die beskikbaarheid van sosiale ondersteuning, ondersteunende kommunikasie, die gebruik van herbesinning, aanvaarding van hulp van ander en geestelike ondersteuning almal gehelp het om die gesin onder ongunstige toestande goed te laat funksioneer. Daar is ook gevind dat opruiende soorte kommunikasie, soos baklei en niks oor ‘n krisissituasie te doen nie, ‘n negatiewe invloed op gesinsfunksionering gehad het. Dit was interessant om te vind dat gesinsgrootte positief met die ouers se beskouing van gesinsfunksionering gekorreleer het, terwyl ‘n hoër vlak van opvoeding onder die kinders gekorreleer het met ‘n laer skatting van gesinsfunksionering. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing sluit in ‘n fokus op gesinsveerkragtigheid in verskillende gesinstipes, ‘n fokus op gesinne wat ‘n MIV-diagnose in die gesin suksesvol hanteer, en die ontwikkeling van ingrypingsprogramme gebaseer op die beginsels van Kognitiewe Gedragsterapie en Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A child’s death represents a traumatic loss, which can be understood as a crisis impacting on the family as a functioning unit. The purpose of the current study was to investigate grief and resilience in families in which a child has died, while specifically focusing on the internal resistance resource of family hardiness. A cross-sectional research design was implemented concurrently with intensive interviews conducted according to the principles of grounded theory. In total, 35 bereaved parents from the Western Cape participated in the study as representatives of 23 families. The participants each completed three questionnaires, a biographical questionnaire, the Family Hardiness Index and the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8. Pearson and Spearman correlational analyses indicated significant positive correlations between family hardiness scores (including scores on the subscales for commitment, challenge and control) and family adaptation (measured by use of the Family Attachment and Changeability Index 8). Significant associations were also found between certain biographical variables and family hardiness. Intensive interviews were, furthermore, conducted with participants representing 12 different families. The analysis of interviewtranscriptions resulted in the formulation of various thematic categories, such as grief-reactions, continuing bonds, external support, religion, as well as the core category of family hardiness. A grounded theory was thus developed concerning grief and resilience in families in which a child has died. The results of the study reveal the importance of qualitative methods to explore the unique experiences of bereaved parents and families with the purpose of constructing applied interventions on the family level. The family hardiness concept was also clarified and shown to be a possible resistance resource conducive to family adaptation following the loss of a child. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die dood van `n kind is `n traumatiese verlies, wat beskou kan word as `n krisis wat `n impak het op die gesin as `n funksionerende eenheid. Die doelwit van die huidige studie was om verdriet en veerkragtigheid in gesinne waarin `n kind oorlede is, te ondersoek, met `n spesifieke fokus op die interne weerstandsbron van gesinsgehardheid. `n Dwars-snit opname navorsingsontwerp is gebruik in oorleg met intensiewe onderhoude, wat volgens die beginsels van gegronde teorie gevoer is. In totaal is 35 ouers, woonagtig in die Wes-Kaap, betrek by die studie, wat opgetree het as verteenwoordigers van 23 gesinne. Die deelnemers het elk drie vraelyste voltooi, naamlik `n biografiese vraelys, die Gesinsgehardheid Indeks en die Gesinsgehegtheid en Veranderlikheid Indeks 8. Pearson en Spearman korrelasie-berekeninge het aangedui dat gesinsgehardheid-tellings (asook die tellings op die subskale vir toewyding, uitdaging en beheer) beduidend positief korreleer met gesinsaanpassing (gemeet met die Gesinsgehegtheid en Veranderlikheid Indeks 8). Beduidende verhoudings is ook gevind tussen sekere biografiese veranderlikes en gesinsgehardheid. Verder is intensiewe onderhoude gevoer met die verteenwoordigers van 12 gesinne. Die ontleding van onderhoud-transkripsies het gelei tot die formulering van verskeie tematiese kategorieë, naamlik verdriet-reaksies, die voortdurende verbintenis, eksterne ondersteuning en godsdiens, asook die kern-kategorie van gesinsgehardheid. `n Gegronde teorie is sodoende ontwikkel, wat betrekking het op verdriet en veerkragtigheid in gesinne waarin `n kind oorlede is. Die resultate van die studie wys op die belang van kwalitatiewe metodes om die uniekheid van bedroefde ouers en gesinne se ervarings te verken met die doel om gepaste intervensies op gesinsvlak te ontwikkel. Die konsep van gesinsgehardheid is ook verhelder en aangedui as `n moontlike weerstandsbron, wat bevorderlik is vir gesinne se aanpassing ná die verlies van `n kind.

Although there is little official data, early girls’ marriage before the age of 18 appears to have increased in Tajikistan over recent years, due to the limited socio-economic opportunities. This study aimed to explore the main causes behind the fall in the age of marriage for girls. As Tajikistan is based on patriarchal values, where family is the core of decision-making, the study looks into the family dynamics and interrelationships to analyse the driving forces behind the decision to arrange marriage for the girls at an earlier age. Using triangulated methods of qualitative data collection, such as interviews, focus group discussions and case studies, the study was conducted in urban, semi rural/semi urban and rural areas of Tajikistan. The findings confirm that early marriage exists in Tajikistan. Although marriage has always been important for Tajiks, recently early age of marriage has been more prioritized. The young girls today leave school when they reach puberty, limit their socialization with their friends outside of the house and rigorously learn skills that qualify them as a ‘desirable’ kelin [bride] to increase their chances of getting a marriage proposal within what is a short marriage window. At the same time, the study argues that the family decision to pursue an early age of marriage for daughters is not because of the low status of the women as it has been suggested in some earlier research. Instead, the study argues that marriage is a strategy to provide girls with what is often the only opportunity of an economically and socially secure future in the country under the current socio-economic and political context. Relations within the families are more complicated than dominant-subordinate as previously portrayed but are based on respect, love and responsibility towards each other. This ‘connectivity’ assists in shaping the girls as potent Tajik women ready for their future roles of mothers and wives. The young girls, as this study suggests, are usually not completely powerless either, as they exercise the limited agency provided by the patriarchal system and actively engage in negotiating their interests. Thus, the study aimed to (1) draw attention to the issue of early marriage among girls in Tajikistan and (2) to contribute to the scholarly discussion on early marriage and on gender and family dynamics in Tajikistan. Based on the findings, it is recommended that more research needs to be conducted to discuss the phenomenon of early girls’ marriage in Tajikistan. Further, legal, political and social changes are necessary to provide a safety net for women married at an early age but divorced or abandoned later. Although bringing changes to the marriage values might be a challenging task, it is hoped that this research and others similar to this one will demonstrate the importance of the issue and will result in appropriate attention and an effective policy response.

Bipolär sjukdom är en sjukdom som gör att den drabbade pendlar mellan maniska och depressiva episoder. Den upplevda sjukdomen påverkar inte bara den drabbade utan även familjemedlemmar och närstående i den drabbades vardag. Arbetet för att hjälpa de drabbade familjerna är viktigt för sjuksköterskan, då ett väl fungerande stöd från sjukvården kan underlätta hälsan för de inblandade drastiskt. Syftet med studien var att belysa vad det innebär att leva i en familj där en förälder lider av bipolär sjukdom. En litteraturstudie genomfördes och resultatet baseras på̊ elva vetenskapliga artiklar. Efter att artiklarna hade analyserats framkom tre kategorier: risker, bördor samt stöd. Resultatet visade att det på många sätt behövs hjälp från sjukvården för att familjer där en vuxen lider av bipolär sjukdom ska kunna få en fungerande vardag. Det fanns många risker och de närstående bar på ett flertal bördor. Genom att stötta familjerna med samtalsstöd, information och avlastning gjorde man det dagliga livet uthärdligt. / Bipolar disorder is a disorder who makes the victim oscillate between manic and depressive episodes. The perceived disease affects not only the afflicted but also the family members and relatives of the affected’s life. Efforts to help the affected families is important for the nurse, for a well-functioning support from health care can ease the health of those involved drastically. The aim of the study was to highlight what it means to live in a family where a parent is suffering from bipolar disorder. A literature review was conducted and the results are based on eleven scientific articles. After the articles had been analyzed three categories emerged: risks, burdens and support. The results showed that in many ways, help is needed from health care to families where an adult suffering from bipolar disorder for them to be able to get a functioning daily life. There were many risks and the related was carrying multiple burdens. By supporting the families with counseling, information and relief they made daily life bearable.

O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDA/H) é um distúrbio do neurodesenvolvimento caracterizado por desatenção, hiperatividade e impulsividade. A criança com esse diagnóstico apresenta prejuízo clinicamente significativo no funcionamento social e acadêmico. A literatura revela que a suscetibilidade genética em interação com fatores ambientais, inclusive os familiares, compõem a sua etiologia. Desse modo, conhecer as experiências dos familiares e da criança com TDA/H é importante para a compreensão do surgimento e manutenção desse quadro. Por conta disso, esta pesquisa objetiva compreender como a experiência materna de mulheres com filhos diagnosticados com TDA/H se associa ao desenvolvimento do Self dessas crianças. Para tanto, foi realizada uma pesquisa clínicoqualitativa, empregando a Psicanálise winnicottiana como referencial teórico. A estratégia metodológica utilizada foi a das Narrativas Transferenciais. Participaram desta pesquisa, quatro díades mães e filhos. Foi realizado primeiramente um encontro com a mãe para coletar dados demográficos e de identificação dela e da criança, e a aplicação da Escala de Maturidade Mental Colúmbia (EMMC), de forma a assegurar os critérios de inclusão/exclusão na pesquisa. No segundo encontro, foi solicitado que a mãe falasse sobre sua experiência como mãe de um filho diagnosticado com TDA/H, a partir da visualização de alguns cartões do Teste de Apercepção Infantil figuras de animais (CAT-A). Separadamente, para a criança, foram apresentados os mesmos cartões do CAT-A visualizados pela mãe, solicitando que ela contasse uma história sobre cada um deles. Os encontros com a mãe e com a criança foram descritos na forma de narrativas transferenciais individuais e, após essa redação, foi feita uma interpretação psicanalítica do material produzido por cada membro da díade. Em seguida, foi realizada uma síntese da díade, no intuito de relacionar a experiência materna e o desenvolvimento do Self da criança. Após a análise e interpretação do material produzido por cada uma das díades, foi feita uma síntese final dos resultados de todas as mães, outra de todas as crianças e, finalmente, uma síntese final de todas as díades. Em relação à experiência materna, as mães relataram angústias vivenciadas durante a gestação e após o nascimento dos filhos. Elas não conseguiram entrar em sintonia com eles no início da vida, não tiveram condições, por razões diversas, para experimentar a devoção e manifestaram dificuldades em vincular-se com a criança e oferecer-lhes holding. Nessas condições, as crianças não dispuseram de oportunidades suficientes para usufruir das experiências de ilusão, o que comprometeu o processo posterior de desilução. Essas dificuldades de relacionamento inicial da díade, que persistiam até o momento da pesquisa, eram decorrentes de vivências depressivas latentes ou manifestas das mães, que acarretavam prejuízos na capacidade para as experiências transicionais, para o brincar e para a simbolização. Os comportamentos desatentos e hiperativos da criança pareceram ser uma resposta a esse abafamento e desconsideração do gesto criativo, que permanece na forma de uma motricidade exacerbada e sem objetivos. Os resultados apontam, portanto, para dificuldades no processo de constituição do Self tanto das crianças quanto das mães. Estudos que aprofundem essa vertente compreensiva da relação entre a mãe e a criança com TDA/H devem ser encorajados, visto que esta parece ser uma via promissora para o desenvolvimento de estratégias terapêuticas para esse sofrimento da díade. / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopment disorder characterized by lack of concentration, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Child with this diagnosis presents clinically significant disadvantage in social and academic functioning. The literature reveals that genetic susceptibility in interaction with environmental factors, including family factors, compose its etiology. Thereby, knowing the relatives and ADHD childs experiences is important for understanding the emergence and maintenance of this condition. Therefore, this research aims to understand how the maternal experience of ADHD children mothers is associated with the development of the Self of these children. For that, a clinical-qualitative research was carried out applying the Winnicottian psychoanalysis as a theoretical reference. The methodological strategy used was the \"Transferential Narratives\". There were four dyads mothers and children participating in this research. At first, it was held a meeting with the mother to collect demographic and identification data from her and the child, and the application of the Columbia Mental Maturity Scale (CMMS), in order to ensure the inclusion/exclusion criteria in the research. At the second meeting, the mother was asked to speak about her experience as the mother of a child diagnosed with ADHD, from the visualization of some cards of the Childrens Apperception Test - animal figures (CAT-A). Separately, to the child, it was presented the same CAT-A cards visualized by the mother, and it was asked to tell a story about each of them. The meetings with the mother and the child were described in the shape of individual transferential narratives and after this writing a psychoanalytic interpretation of the material produced by each member of the dyad was done. Later, a dyad synthesis was made in order to relate the maternal experience and the development of the child\'s Self. After the analysis and interpretation of the material produced by each of the dyads, a final synthesis of the results of all mothers was done, as well as another one of all the childrens results, and finally a final synthesis of all the dyads. Concerning the maternal experience, the mothers reported anguishes experienced during pregnancy and after the birth of their children. They were not able to tune into them early in life, they were not able, for various reasons, to experience the devotion and they showed difficulties in linking themselves with the child and offering them a holding. Under these conditions, children did not have sufficient opportunities to enjoy the illusion experiences, which compromised the subsequent process of disappointment. These initial dyad relationships, which persisted until the moment of the research, were due to the mothers latent or manifested depressive experiences, that resulted entailed impairments in the capacity for transitional experiences, to play and to symbolization. The child\'s inattentive and hyperactive behaviors seemed to be a response to this drowning and disregard of the creative gesture, which remains in the form of an exacerbated and aimless motricity. The results point, therefore, to difficulties in the process of constitution of the Self, to both children and mothers. Studies that deepen this understanding aspect of the relationship between the mother and the child with ADHD should be encouraged, since this seems to be a promising way for the development of therapeutic strategies for this dyad suffering.

Os transtornos alimentares (TAs) são caracterizados como graves perturbações no comportamento alimentar, que podem resultar em prejuízos biológicos, psicológicos e sociais. A prevalência é substancialmente maior no sexo feminino e os sintomas eclodem predominantemente na adolescência, coincidindo com a transição psicossocial que marca essa etapa do ciclo vital e a intensificação das vivências sexuais. Sob a ótica da psicanálise, os TAs podem ser compreendidos como respostas somáticas a estados de tensão emocional desencadeados por processos mentais que não puderam ser simbolizados. Essa dificuldade de simbolização parece estar relacionada à impossibilidade da adolescente se individuar, o que necessitaria da assunção de um corpo e uma mente de mulher adulta. A fusão psíquica e decorrente angústia de separação em relação à figura materna também estão relacionadas com as representações inconscientes da feminilidade: a irrupção da sexualidade na adolescência leva a menina a vivenciar um luto pela perda do corpo infantil que, assim como os pais da infância, está sendo deixado para trás. Partindo-se da hipótese de que o sintoma da recusa alimentar pode ser considerado como uma defesa inconsciente utilizada para obliterar o processo de separação-individuação, que é parte inerente ao desenvolvimento emocional, o presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar o desenvolvimento da sexualidade e da feminilidade em mulheres que desenvolveram TAs, na perspectiva das pacientes, de suas mães e de seus pais, buscando estabelecer relações entre esses aspectos fundamentais da constituição subjetiva e os sintomas que caracterizam o quadro psicopatológico. Trata-se de um estudo de caso coletivo, descritivo e transversal, com enfoque qualitativo. As participantes eram adolescentes e jovens adultas com TAs, vinculadas ao Grupo de Assistência em Transtornos Alimentares (GRATA) do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HC-FMRP-USP), e seus respectivos pais (casal parental, entrevistados em separado), totalizando sete tríades edípicas. Os instrumentos utilizados para a coleta dos dados foram: roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, aplicada individualmente com cada membro da tríade; diário de campo, elaborado pela pesquisadora após as entrevistas; e Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil/2015. As entrevistas foram gravadas em áudio para posterior transcrição e análise temática. Os dados foram interpretados com o apoio do referencial teórico da psicossomática psicanalítica de Joyce McDougall. Os resultados demonstraram que a dinâmica psíquica das tríades era marcada por fusão entre mãe e filha, e distanciamento afetivo do pai. A feminilidade era vivenciada tanto pelas filhas quanto pelas mães como equivalente à vulnerabilidade, tornando-se fonte de angústias. Para os genitores do sexo masculino, a feminilidade das filhas foi vivenciada como ameaçadora, suscitando afastamento entre pai e filha na época da puberdade. Evidenciou-se dificuldades, por parte das filhas, no acesso à genitalidade, que guarda relação com a dificuldade no processo de individuação e separação em relação aos pais da infância. Os achados proporcionam insumos para a prática clínica no que concerne à articulação entre as vivências relacionadas à sexualidade/feminilidade e a precipitação e manutenção dos sintomas de TAs, proporcionando uma compreensão mais abrangente dos aspectos psicológicos por parte dos profissionais envolvidos na assistência, prevenção e promoção de saúde na adolescência. / Eating disorders (ED) are characterized by severe disturbances in eating behavior, which may result in biological, psychological and social prejudices. Prevalence is significantly higher in female gender and symptoms start mainly during adolescence, coinciding with the psychosocial transition that marks this stage of vital cycle and the intensification of sexual experiences. From the perspective of psychoanalysis, ED can be understood as somatic responses to emotional tension triggered by mental processes that could not be symbolized. This difficulty of symbolization seems to be related to the adolescent\'s impossibility to individuate, which would require an adult´s woman body and mind. Psychic fusion and the resulting anxiety from separation of the mother figure is also related to the unconscious representations of femininity: the eruption of sexuality in adolescence leads the girl to grieve for her child body, and also her child\'s parents, which are being left behind. Starting from the premise that the symptom of food refusal may be regarded as an unconscious defense used to obliterate the process of separation-individuation, which is an inherent part of emotional development, the present study aimed to investigate the development of sexuality and femininity in women who developed ED, from the perspective of patients, their mothers and their fathers, seeking to establish links between these fundamental aspects of subjective constitution and the symptoms that characterize the psychopathological condition. It is a collective case study, descriptive and cross-sectional, with qualitative approach. Participants were female adolescents and young adults with ED, linked to the Group of Assistance on Eating Disorders (GRATA), from the Clinics Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (HC-FMRP -USP), and their parents (parental couple, interviewed separately), totalizing seven oedipal triads. The instruments used for data collection were: semi-structured interviews, applied individually with each member of the triad consisting of daughter-mother-father; field diary, prepared by the researcher during data collection; and Brazilian Economic Classification Criterion/2015. Interviews were audio-recorded for later transcription and thematic analysis. Data was be interpreted with the support of the theoretical framework of Joyce McDougall´s psychoanalytic psychosomatic. Results showed that the triads´ psychic dynamic included mother-daughter fusion, and father´s detachment. Mothers and daughters perceived femininity as equivalent to vulnerability and source of distress. Fathers were frightened by their daughters´ femininity, which made them distance themselves. Daughters´ difficulties regarding reaching genitality was evident, and was associated with difficulties of individuation and separation from the parents from childhood. This study provides input into clinical practice with regard to the relationship between the experiences related to sexuality/femininity and symptoms of ED, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the psychological aspects related to sexuality by the professionals involved in care, prevention and health promotion in adolescence.