A Parent-Generated Framework of Early Connection: Findings from a CBPR Qualitative Study

The study examined how parents describe connection with their young children based on their lived experiences rather than theoretical concepts. The research was conducted using community-based participatory research (CBPR) in collaboration with parent leaders from Reach Out and Read. Parent leaders conducted and transcribed 18 interviews with parents from their networks, which were subsequently analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The analysis identified six core principles: connection begins with an instinctual sense of responsibility, fluctuates based on parent-child adaptation, is shaped by family circumstances and cultural expectations, is influenced by parents' past experiences, requires physical and emotional presence despite competing demands, and creates a self-sustaining cycle of relational health. The study revealed two important aspects: parents perceive responsibility as an immediate instinct preceding emotional bonding, and they actively choose what to carry forward from their relational history.