Why is the bond between mother and daughter so important? 1
How does psychological intervention with minors work? What is the role of parents?
In light of these data, what is the role of family and society in the educational process?
Why is the bond between mother and daughter so important?
For every daughter, the relationship with her mother is extremely important: this relationship will be central throughout her life and will inevitably influence her future emotional and interpersonal experiences. The mother is, in fact, a “model” from which to look up and learn in matters such as love, sexuality, work, and social behavior.
When and why does conflict arise between mothers and daughters?
Conflictual mother-daughter relationships arise when mothers project unrealistic ideals and expectations onto their daughters : in these cases the daughter may feel rejected in her uniqueness and accepted only when she repeats the script that her mother has unconsciously assigned to her.
It is no coincidence that conflicts often become exacerbated during adolescence , when girls begin to distinguish themselves from their mothers in terms of ideas, life choices and to become women with their own distinct personalities.
If the most difficult thing for a mother is to let her daughter live as a person while respecting her uniqueness , it is equally complex for a daughter to communicate to her mother “I am different from you”, especially when she is criticized and judged by the other side.
What types of psychological problems can arise from a disturbed mother-daughter relationship?
There are many psychological problems that arise from a disturbed relationship between mother and daughter : think of all the problems related to food (bulimia, anorexia), sex (premature pregnancies) or related to the emotional world (anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem) and relational (dependence on the partner, inability to achieve autonomy and independence).
Further problems in the mother-daughter relationship can arise from the attitude of all those mothers who try to relive their youth through their daughters’ lives . Affected by what we might call ” mother-friend syndrome ,” these women try to be more friends than mothers and, in the name of an “open” friend-to-friend relationship, expect their daughter to keep no secrets, not even about sex.
But daughters also have the right to their privacy, and it’s perfectly normal for them to prefer to talk about certain topics with their friends rather than with their mother.
How does psychological intervention with minors work? What is the role of parents?
When the child is young, it’s best not to intervene directly with the child to avoid making them feel ill. Whenever possible, the psychologist will try to intervene with the child in consultation with the parents. If necessary, the psychologist may request a face-to-face meeting with the child with the problem.
Typically, after an initial meeting with the parents to gather the child’s history and define the problem, several sessions are proposed, generally weekly, to diagnose and assess the problem. The most appropriate treatment plan is then discussed with the parents.
After the age of 10-11, it is best to conduct the intervention with the parents and the child together in order to also give the child the opportunity to express his thoughts and emotions regarding family relationships.
During adolescence, the intervention can also be conducted with the child alone, without the parents (who, however, must still give their consent to the intervention on their child), allowing the child to freely express his or her point of view on the facts, a particularly strong need during this developmental stage.
Specifically, what are the main socio-health emergencies in the field of developmental psychology today?
Bullying is a growing phenomenon that, according to recent data published by Eurispes and Telefono Azzurro in the 6th National Report on the Condition of Children and Adolescents, affects one in three children and tends to occur between the ages of 7-8 and 14-18. This phenomenon is increasingly seen as an expression of a lack of tolerance for diversity, a lack of acceptance of those who differ in ethnicity, physical and psychological characteristics, or simply in lifestyle choices.
Bullying stems from prejudice, misinformation, and a lack of tolerance for anything “other,” anything “different from oneself.” In this regard, schools and families have the task of fostering a culture that values diversity as a source of wealth and that fosters acceptance and awareness of others.
Another worrying emergency arises from the phenomenon of ” cyber bullying ,” characterized by harassing and defamatory actions carried out using email, websites, blogs, SMS, MMS, and cell phones. Like bullying, it is aimed at hurting and harming an individual or a group, is intentional, and can even constitute a cybercrime.
Eating disorders are also on the rise, particularly among women between the ages of 12 and 25. According to the latest Eurispes report, approximately two million young Italians between the ages of 12 and 25 suffer from eating disorders: the main ones are anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder (BED), as well as other unidentified eating disorders.
In light of these data, what role do family and society play in the educational process?
I believe that today more than ever there is a need to implement integrated preventive intervention plans that involve children, teachers, parents, and experts in the field, aimed at promoting a culture of information, listening, and support.
The primary objective of such interventions should be to create a significant relational and educational context where adults become active as promoters of appropriate methods of interaction and young people have the opportunity to be supported during the developmental process.
Adults today must certainly strive to give meaning, a significance, especially and above all emotional, to their relationships with young people, without forgetting to define their own role as guides and guarantors of the rules.
The adult must establish an educational relationship with the younger child based on mutual respect, growth, and individual exchange. A more intense relationship from this perspective could have a strong preventive effect on youth distress.
Dr. Francesca Saccà
