Belonging

doi:10.1017/9781911623069.009

Chapter 9 - Belonging

from Section 2 - Scoping

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 June 2019

Peter Hindley

Edited by

Richard Williams ,

Verity Kemp ,

S. Alexander Haslam ,

Catherine Haslam ,

Kamaldeep S. Bhui and

Susan Bailey

Edited in association with

Daniel Maughan

Show author details

Richard Williams: Affiliation:
University of South Wales
Verity Kemp: Affiliation:
Healthplanning Ltd.
S. Alexander Haslam: Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Catherine Haslam: Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Kamaldeep S. Bhui: Affiliation:
Queen Mary University of London
Susan Bailey: Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health
Daniel Maughan: Affiliation:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

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Summary

Attachment theory has become a central concept in our understanding of resilience in children and young people (Fonagy et al., 1994). However, attachment theory is a relatively narrow concept, focused on the relationship between a child and his or her principal caregivers and the child’s need to seek comfort when distressed (Waters et al., 2005). Furthermore, attachment theory concerns itself with individual person’s relationships, while recognising that children can have multiple attachment relationships. However, we know that children grow up in complex systems (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) and there is a growing recognition that children and young people’s sense of belonging (to individuals, groups and organisations) is a key component of resilience (Hart et al., 2008). Thus, the concept of belonging encapsulates children’s relationships with their immediate families or carers, their friends and their friends’ families, their schools, social activities (Scouts, football clubs, youth clubs) and wider social experiences, such as religious organisations or cultural groups.

Type: Chapter
Information: Social Scaffolding
Applying the Lessons of Contemporary Social Science to Health and Healthcare
, pp. 72 - 77

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781911623069.009 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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