| This project is a single case study of a private orphanage in Northeastern China. Three questions guided the investigation at the orphanage: (1) What do providers believe is their role in meeting the children's social-emotional needs? (2) How do providers' routines support children's social-emotional development? and (3) How do providers integrate their faith in caring for the children? Observations of and conversations with the orphanage director, co-director, and two direct-care providers were analyzed along the following four categories: Parenting Style, Dependency Paradigms, Daily Routines, and Spiritual Attributions. Data was hand-coded and analyzed for relevant themes within the four categories. Results support previous research suggesting Chinese parenting is best described as a blend of authoritarian and authoritative styles. Results also indicate that adult providers' intentional identification with traditional family roles (father, mother, aunt) provide the intimate environment that fosters children's social-emotional development. Additionally, a blending of both institutional and family care frameworks were evident in the daily routines of providers. Spiritual Attributions of God as a Source of Meaning and God as My Helper were significant contributions to the emotional support of providers and provided the vehicle for passing on spiritual beliefs to children. |
