SSR Seminar Series: Children’s Experience of Childcare Constellations in Stepfamilies: A Multi-voice Case Study Method
Video Recording
The formation of stepfamily affects every facet of childcare practices and shapes the well-being of children and stepfamily relationships. Prior research has shown that childcare practices, such as parental academic involvement, discipline, and regulation of children’s behaviour, play a critical role in moulding and affecting children’s development, well-being, and quality of relationships with family members. A scoping literature review within this study found that childcare practices are closely connected to family processes such as complicating co-parental dynamics, geographical and sociocultural context of stepfamilies, and multilevel correlates of child well-being.
A qualitative multi-voice case study method using childcare practices as context is undertaken in this study to explore the effects of childcare practices pieced together by caregivers, children’s response and management of those practices on their well-being and relationship quality with caregivers. Using social relational theory as the theoretical framework to investigate bidirectional causality between caregivers and children, six stepfamilies composing of six mothers, seven of their biological children (11-15 years old) and six other caregivers participated in this study. Many recommendations for social work practice for stepfamilies will be proposed. Implications for theory and research will likewise be provided.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dept. of Social Work
National University of Singapore
Dr Vivienne Ng received her PhD from the National University of Singapore, Department of Social Work. In her past direct practice both as a social worker and counselling psychologist, she worked extensively with low-income families and across issues such as multi-stressed problems, grief and loss, mental health issues, alleged child abuse, family violence, and workplace bullying. She ran multiple therapeutic support groups for victims of extra-marital affairs and parents of teenagers with gaming addiction issues. Her PhD thesis is rooted in children’s experience living in stepfamilies with a keen eye on practice implications for social workers.
Binte Abdul Rahman
Associate Professor
Dept. of Malay Studies, &
Co-Director
Social Service Research Centre
National University of Singapore
Associate Professor Noor Aisha's research and teaching areas include Malay customary law, administration of Muslim law in Southeast Asia, the sociology of religion (specifically Islam and Malay religious orientations), elites and the development of the Malays in the region. Her publications also cover topics on the education of the Malays, Muslim women and development, teenage marriage, and social problems within the community.
For enquiries, please contact Mr Tan Zhi Han.