Beyond Being a Good Enough Mother: The Role of Extended Maternal Figures in Clinical Practice Through a Cultural-Sensitive Lens

Although matriarchs are esteemed in certain cultures, their role is often overlooked in individualistic societies, such as ours, which places greater autonomy on the child or adolescent and less on the parent or guardian. We aim to explore the modern role of extended maternal figures through diverse cultures (Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern) to inform ethical considerations in shared decision making in clinical practice. Significant extended maternal figures can take the form of grandmothers, aunts, godparents, and even friends of the family who become respected guardians and become involved in the care of our child patients.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Clinical Perspectives 5 Source Type: research