Consequences of childhood emotional neglect in adult relationships : a pastoral counselling approach

dc.contributor.advisorDreyer, Yolanda
dc.contributor.emailmthunzipani@outlook.comen_US
dc.contributor.postgraduatePani, Mthunzi Joseph
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-15T08:57:35Z
dc.date.available2025-04-15T08:57:35Z
dc.date.created2025-04
dc.date.issued2024-10
dc.descriptionDissertation (MTh (Practical Theology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.en_US
dc.description.abstractSome children experience love, warmth, support, attention and care from their caregivers while others go through adverse experiences such as emotional neglect. This study investigated the consequences of childhood emotional neglect throughout a person’s life, in adult relationships and parenting practices. Ultimately, the study aimed to determine the suitability of narrative pastoral narrative counselling as a means to mitigate the effects of childhood emotional neglect. The methodology employed was a literature study. The study did not have an empirical component, it incorporated insight from existing literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research question. It used interpretivism as the epistemological paradigm. The study found that childhood emotional neglect can cause mental health challenges, negative attachment styles, and adverse effects in adult relationships and parenting practices. Childhood emotional neglect can lead to substance use disorder and poor academic performance. The study also found that the narrative pastoral counselling approach can facilitate healing and wholeness for affected individuals. Narrative pastoral counselling allows individuals and couples who experienced childhood emotional neglect to share and interpret their stories, using empathy, non-judgment, and a caring environment. Narrative counsellors avoid pathologizing and use multiple tools to co-author alternative stories and foster new meaning and identity. The Jesus’ narrative exemplifies empathy and emotional responsiveness which serves as a model and catalyst for positive human interaction. It can inspire individuals to overcome the effects of childhood emotional neglect and tell new stories in light of God’s story and make new meaning and discover a new identity in Christ.en_US
dc.description.availabilityUnrestricteden_US
dc.description.degreeMTh (Practical Theology)en_US
dc.description.departmentPractical Theologyen_US
dc.description.facultyFaculty of Theology and Religionen_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-03: Good health and well-beingen_US
dc.identifier.citation*en_US
dc.identifier.doiDisclaimer Letteren_US
dc.identifier.otherA2025en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/102085
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Pretoria
dc.rights© 2024 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
dc.subjectUCTDen_US
dc.subjectSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)en_US
dc.subjectEmotionalen_US
dc.subjectNeglecten_US
dc.subjectChildhooden_US
dc.subjectPastoralen_US
dc.subjectNarrativeen_US
dc.subjectCounsellingen_US
dc.subjectCaregiveren_US
dc.titleConsequences of childhood emotional neglect in adult relationships : a pastoral counselling approachen_US
dc.typeDissertationen_US

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