THE ROLE OF MATERNAL ATTITUDE IN THE FORMATION OF SELF-HARMING BEHAVIOR IN A CHILD

Abstract

The problem of the role of maternal attitude for the occurrence of psychosomatic disorders and the question about the nature and causes of emotional maladaptation in children are still under discussion, in terms of the importance of the issue of children psychosomatic health and the prevalence of psychosomatic diseases. The article discusses the features of the maternal attitude when a child shows self-harming behavior and allergies of unknown origin. Children with allergies of unknown origin and self-harming behavior were included in the comparison groups due to an attempt to find a common psychological pattern between the manifestation of symptoms of unconfirmed atopic dermatitis and acts of self-harm in children. According to the results of the study, the differentiated influence of the role of the maternal attitude on the psychosomatic well-being of the child is presented. The authors state that if a child has an allergy of unknown origin, the inconsistency of the mother's actions towards the child is observed, the manifestation of hyperprotection acts as a means of controlling the mother's own anxious state. When self-harming behavior is manifested, there is a tendency of the mother to ignore the needs of the child due to a low ability to understand the reasons for child’s behavior. By means of identifying the features of the maternal relationship, the significance of early contact in the mother-child dyad in groups of mothers, whose children suffer from allergies of unknown origin or demonstrate self-harming behavior, was confirmed. The tasks of clinical and psychological support of parents bringing up children with self-harming behavior are substantiated.