Institutional logics in child rearing: a case study of early childhood with developmental delay in Cha-Am district, Phetchaburi province

Abstract

The purposes of this research included 1) to study the relation between family determinants and child development in Cha-am District, Phetchaburi Province, 2) to examine the parental practices of families and identify the sets of institutional logics found in the field of child rearing, and 3) to investigate and analyze the sets of institutional logic in the child-rearing field related to developmental delay. Multiphase mixed-methods research applying qualitative and quantitative research was used for the research design. It was found that 33.3% of the sample experienced developmental delays. The results showed that 7 variables were related to developmental delay, including 1) the number of main caretakers, 2) the employment status of the main caretakers, 3) the income of the main caretakers, 4) the relationship between the main caretakers and children, 5) the number of children in the same family, 6) the elderly relatives in the family, and 7) the adequacy of income. According to the analysis of the logic for child rearing in relation to children with developmental delays, the results showed that community logic related to language-developmental delays, family logic related to developmental delays in receptive language and fine motor skills, market logic related to child groups with developmental delays, and professional logic related to children with normal development.

The study provides suggestions for projects that public health organizations may need to carry out in order to change the attitudes of parents, including 1) not allowing children to use smartphones or watch television for long periods, 2) training children to help themselves, and 3) controlling their behaviors through the use of psychological punishment. These guidelines would help children in the community have higher development. Theoretically, it should contribute to three frameworks in the field of child rearing, including Institutional Complexity Framework, Historical Embeddedness Framework, and Child Rearing Institutional Logics Ideal Types. Practically, these three contributions will expand institutional logic perspective theory in child rearing covering more dimensions.