Estudio comparativo en Representaciones Sociales del cuidado de niños pequeños en población general y en padres y madres de los CeDI

Bernardo Kerman; Gabriel Mortara; Natalia Campoya; Melisa Gaggino; Rocío Kobylanski; Camila Menéndez Maissonave; Lara María Itatí König

doi:10.32351/rca.v11.411

Authors

Bernardo Kerman Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3066-007X
Gabriel Mortara Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1911-5820
Natalia Campoya Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4553-0000
Melisa Gaggino Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6994-1392
Rocío Kobylanski Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1283-9968
Camila Menéndez Maissonave Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0592-6482
Lara María Itatí König Universidad de Flores https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3328-9715

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32351/rca.v11.411

Política de Crossmark DOI: https://doi.org/10.32351/politica-crossmark

Keywords:

childcare, social representations, childhood, vulnerability

Abstract

The study of social representations related to childcare facilitates the understanding of parenting practices by revealing how ways of caring for children are normalized and transmitted. In this paper, the perception of the general population is compared with that of caregivers attending Child Development Centers (CeDI). Based on a cognitive-systemic theoretical framework with a humanistic perspective, seven dimensions of care were defined: expression of love and acceptance, sensory contact, communication, basic needs, play, limits and satisfaction with the parental role. A descriptive study with a cross-sectional design was conducted. The sample was intentional non-probabilistic. It was composed by 771 caregivers from Argentina, with ages ranging from 18 to 68. 79.6% of the sample consisted of the general population and 20.4% were caregivers from the CeDI. It was analyzed through a word association technique (Wagner & Hayes, 2011). A common core of meanings was identified where the terms love, responsibility, and patience present the highest frequencies. These results suggest that, at a general level, care is structured mainly around affective and normative dimensions, valuing the emotional availability of the adult. The comparative analysis revealed significant differences; CeDI caregivers prioritize care in a less abstract way, using terms such as education, nutrition, health, and hygiene with a higher frequency than the general population. This discrepancy evidences that in contexts of social vulnerability, the representation of care is strongly linked to the satisfaction of basic and factual needs.

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Author Biographies

Bernardo Kerman, Universidad de Flores

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist (University of Buenos Aires). PhD and Postdoctoral Fellow in Psychology (University of Flores). President of the Argentine Association of Evidence-Based Psychotherapies (AAPBE), Director of the Specialization in Clinical Psychology (University of Flores), Researcher and Full Professor at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores).
Gabriel Mortara, Universidad de Flores

Degree in Psychology. PhD candidate in Psychology (University of Flores). Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist. Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores, Argentine Museum of Social Sciences University). Member of Dr. Bernardo Kerman's research team (University of Flores).
Natalia Campoya, Universidad de Flores

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Interamerican Open University).
Specialist in Early Childhood, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and University Teaching. Institutional Coordinator of the CeDI Program (Early Childhood Development Centers, Government of the City of Buenos Aires). Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores, Argentine Museum of Social SciencesUniversity).
Melisa Gaggino, Universidad de Flores

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. PhD Candidate in Psychology (University of Flores). Researcher and Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores).Co-Coordinator of the Research Secretariat on High Intellectual Abilities at Mensa Argentina.
Rocío Kobylanski, Universidad de Flores

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Universidad de Flores). Diploma in Evidence Based Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy. Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores). Clinical Practice. Member of the Research Team led by Dr. Bernardo Kerman (Universidad de Flores).
Camila Menéndez Maissonave, Universidad de Flores

Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology (Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina). Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, University of Flores). Head of the Educational Area (University of Flores). Academic Coordinator of the Specialization in Clinical Psychology (University of Flores). Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychologist. Member of the Research Team led by Dr. Bernardo Kerman (Universidad of Flores).
Lara María Itatí König, Universidad de Flores

Bachelor 's Degree in Psychopedagogy (University of Flores). Educational Psychologist (I.S.F.D. Y T. Andersen). Professor of Early Education (I.S.F.D. N° 117- José Gervasio Artigas). Professor at the undergraduate level in the Faculty of Psychology and Social Sciences (University of Flores). Member of the research team led by Dr. Bernardo Kerman (University of Flores).

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