Promoting parent-child secure attachment bonds in adoptive families through community-based ...

207 Pages·2013·5.2 MB·English

PROMOTING PARENT-CHILD SECURE ATTACHMENT BONDS IN ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY MUSIC GROUPS: A
HEURISTIC GROUNDED THEORY STUDY

A THESIS IN
Music

Presented to the Faculty of the University
of Missouri-Kansas City in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree

MASTER OF ARTS

by
ERIN LYN MCALPIN

B.A., University of Missouri – Kansas City, 2008

Kansas City, Missouri
2013
© 2013
ERIN LYN MCALPIN
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
PROMOTING PARENT-CHILD SECURE ATTACHMENT BONDS IN ADOPTIVE
FAMILIES THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED FAMILY MUSIC GROUPS: A
HEURISTIC GROUNDED THEORY STUDY

Erin L. McAlpin, Candidate for the Master of Arts Degree
University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2013

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this heuristic grounded theory study was to discover how community-
based family music groups could foster bonding development in adoptive families. The
subjects were 11 adoptive families with a total of 41 family members. Every adoptive
family included at least one parent and at least one adopted child under three and one-half
years old: siblings also participated. Data sources included three parental interviews,
eight-weeks of parental journaling, and an eight-week Kindermusik® Wiggle & Grow
family music class. Through the analysis of data three themes were identified: (a)
healing awareness, (b) acceptance awareness, and (c) compassion awareness. These three
themes then informed the development of a conceptual summary of community-based
family groups to promote parent-child secure attachment bonds.
iii
APPROVAL PAGE

The faculty listed below, appointed by the Dean of the Conservatory of Music and Dance
have examined a thesis titled “Promoting Parent-Child Secure Attachment Bonds in
Adoptive Families Through Community-Based Family Music Groups: A Heuristic
Grounded Theory Study,” presented by Erin L. McAlpin, candidate for the Master of Arts
degree, and certify that in their opinion it is worthy of acceptance.

Supervisory Committee
Deanna Hanson-Abromeit, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson
Conservatory of Music and Dance
Melita Belgrave, Ph.D.
Conservatory of Music and Dance
Loyce Caruthers, Ph.D.
School of Education
Joy Granade, M.M
Kindermusik Educator, Program Director
iv
CONTENTS
ABSTRACT……………………………………………………….……………………..iii
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS………………………….…....………………….....………xi
LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………...….….…xii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………….…………………......….........xiii
PREFACE………………………………………………….………………......…....…..xiv
Chapter
1. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………….…………..1
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE…………………………………………….……….6
Attachment Theory…...……………………………….…………………..8
Organized Behavioral System……………..……...……………….9
Attachment System………………………………..……………..11
Secure Base Behavior……………………………………………12
Safe Haven……………………………….………………………12
The Attachment Bond………………...………………………….13
Internal Working Model……………...………………………….13
The Strange Situation Assessment………...……………………..14
Interpersonal Neurobiology……………….……………………………..16
Emotion…………………………………………..………………17
Memory…………………………………………………………..18
Attachment…………………………………………...…………..20
Adult Attachment Interview…………………….……….20

v
Direct Correlation of Parent-Child
Attachment……………………………………….21

Shame Resilience Theory……………………..…………………………24
Shame……………………………………………….……………25
Empathy………………………………….………………………26
The Experience of Adoptive Families…………………...………………29
Becoming a Parent……………………….………………………29
Not-Yet-Mourned Losses…………………...……………35
Becoming a Son or Daughter………………………….…………36
Belonging to One Another……………….………………38
Theoretical Framework…………………………………………..………39
Music Therapy…………………………………………...………………41
Music Therapy with Adoptive Families…………..…..…………41
Music Therapy, Bonding and Attachment……………..………..42
Attachment-Based Intervention…………………….……………45
Community Music Therapy…………....……………...…………45
Kindermusik®…….…….……..…………………………….……47
Statement of Problem and Conclusion…………….……………………..50
3. METHODOLOGY………………………………………………...…………….52
Rationale for Qualitative Research…………………………………...….53
Grounded Theory……………………………………...…………54
Heuristic Tradition…………………………………………...…..55
Design……………………………………………………………………56
Recruitment Process……………………………………………...56
vi
Inclusion Criteria and Extended Family Members………………57
Materials…………………………………...…………………….58
Adoptive Parents……………………………………...………….59
Adopted Children and Siblings…………………………………..60
Setting………………………………………………………...….60
Kindermusik® Wiggle & Grow Class………………...………….61
Data Sources……………………………………………………………..63
Interviews……………………………………………..………….63
Informal Conversational Interview…………………..…..64
Interview Guide Approach…………………………...…..65
Standardized Open-Ended Interview………………...…..65
Documents…………………………………………………….…66
Observations…………………………………………..…………67
Confidentiality………………………………………………...…………70
Data Analysis………………………………………………...…………..71
Heuristic Inquiry and Grounded Theory………………..………..74
Limitations and Ethical Considerations………………………………….76
4. RESULTS……………………………………………………….……………….79
Understanding Adoptive Families………………………………...……..85
Unfinished Dream………………………………………….…….86
Grounded……………………………………………………..…..87
Connection…………………………………………………...…..88
Abandonment of Adoptive Parent……………………………….89
vii
Belonging of the Adopted Child…………………………..……..89
Findings………………………………………………………………….90
Healing Awareness…………………………………………...….90
Healing Awareness: Unresolved Experiences……….…..91
Healing Awareness: Seeking Comfort…………………...94
Healing Awareness: Seeking Perspective……………..…98
Acceptance Awareness……………………………………..…100
Acceptance Awareness: Need Awareness…………...…101
Acceptance Awareness: Child Awareness……………..101
Compassion Awareness……………………………………….101
Compassion Awareness: Support Awareness…………..102
Compassion Awareness: Attachment Awareness………102
Summary of Interview and Journal Themes………….……….102
Role of Community-Based Family Groups…………...……....103
Developing or Repairing a Sense of Safety…….………103
Relationship Repair…………………………………….104
Family Support…………………………………………105
Facilitating Attachment Security………...……………..105
Developing Communication………………..…………..106
Understanding, Developing or Maintaining
Inter-subjective Experiences…………………..107

Research Questions………………………………………………..……114
5. DISCUSSION…………………………………………………………………..117
What I Have Learned………………………………………….……..…118
viii
Conceptual Summary……………………………………………...……121
Recommendations for Program Development……………………...…..126
Parental Acceptance of Self……..…..………………………126
Parental Compassion for Self…………..…….……………..127
Community-Based Family Groups………………...……….127
Conclusion………………………..…………………………….……..128
Future Research…….…..…….……………………………………….133
Appendix
A. CLASS FYLER………………………………………………………………...135
B. RECRUITMENT EMAIL………………………………………...……………136
C. RECRUITMENT EMAIL FOR ADOPTIVE FAMILIES…………..…………137
D. CONSENT FOR PARTICIPATION………………………………….……..…141
E. WEEKLY JOURNAL QUESTIONS…..………………………………...…….148
F. WEEKLY PARENT EMAILS………………………………………………....153
G. PHOTOGRAPHES OF KINDERMUSIK
CLASS LOCATIONS AND POSTERS………………………………166

H. PART 1. UNFINISHED DREAM………………………………………...……168
I. PART 2. GROUNDED…………………………………………………..……..170
J. PART 3. CONNECTION…………………………………………..…………..171
K. PART 4. ABANDONMENT OF THE
ADOPTIVE PARENT…………………………………………….....…172

L. PART 5. BELONGING OF THE
ADOPTED CHILD………………………………………………......…173
M. PERMISSION FOR FIGURES………………………………...……………….175

ix
REFERENCE LIST…………………………………………………………….…..…..177
VITA……………………………………………………………………………………190
x