Defense Date

5-13-2011

Graduation Date

Summer 2011

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

PhD

Department

Clinical Psychology

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Committee Chair

Eva Simms

Committee Member

Jessie Goicoechea

Committee Member

Leswin Laubscher

Keywords

Bedsharing, Cosleeping, Feminist, Listening guide, Parenting, Qualitative

Abstract

This project presents a qualitative study of how parents described the process of deciding to bed-share with their children. Particular emphasis was placed in understanding how those parents described relationships with advice sources. The Listening Guide feminist discourse analysis method was used to analyze interviews with five mothers who self-identified as having regularly slept with their babies to identify discourses with particular emphasis on references to self and authority. The context of this project is explained in detail with review of socio-political and scientific perspectives on decision-making and co-sleeping. Interview analysis resulted in the identification of two ways of engaging with information that were labeled as 'Prescriptive` and 'Adaptive` voices in parenting. The two voices of discourse are described in detail including their distinct modes of temporality, values, agents of action, information processes, and use of conceptual terminology. Discussion of results addresses how co-sleeping mothers, in this project, all referenced frequent consideration of relationships with their children and their children`s` perceived preferences and needs. Further discussion addresses when parents chose to build relationships with advice sources or withdraw from conversation.

Format

PDF

Language

English

Download

Share

COinS