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Analyse du non-recours volontaire : regard sur la qualité de l’accueil extrafamilial des jeunes enfants en Belgique francophone

Carole Bonnetier, Florence Degrave and Martin Wagener
Research Framework : Focusing on families who choose not to use early childhood care and education services (ECEC) leads us to examine the content of the services offered to them and to question their quality, beyond issues of barriers, obstacles, and accessibility. Objectives : The aim is to question the relevance of public provision of out-of-home childcare by analyzing the parental reasoning behind the deliberate decision not to use such services. Methodology : Using a clustering method, four research areas were selected in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (Belgium) and then investigated using a qualitative methodology. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 47 professionals in the sector and with 35 families who did not want to use ECEC services. Results : Deliberate non-use of ECEC services is mainly expressed through a stance of non-adherence or non-involvement . The (evolving) relational configurations in which parents are involved – which bring into play their network of relatives, but also institutional mechanisms – are likely to change their relationship with subsidized non-family childcare. Conclusions : The representations of the families surveyed regarding their child’s well-being conflict with two major dimensions that characterize the evolution of the sector: the predominance of its economic function (childcare allows parents to be fully involved in the workforce), and the management of its quality according to a service-oriented logic (parents become users, or even clients). Contribution : This article focuses on a form of non-use that has been little investigated because it stems from a deliberate choice on the part of families. The aim is not to portray these families as rational actors, solely capable of assessing the quality of public services, but to understand what their justifications tell us about the relevance of this provision.

Parents LGBTQ+ au Québec : expériences de microaffirmations et de microagressions au sein des milieux éducatifs fréquentés par leurs enfants.

Emma Bouffard, Martin Blais, Geneviève Pagé, Isabel Côté and Mona Greenbaum
Research framework : Despite socio-legal advances promoting the recognition and protection of LGBTQ+ families in Quebec, persistent heterocisnormativity risks creating more subtle forms of stigmatization, particularly in childcare services and school environments frequented by children. Objectives : This study examines the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion experienced by LGBTQ+ parents in their children’s educational settings through the concepts of microaffirmations (MAF) and microaggressions (MAG). It also analyzes how specific characteristics, such as age, sexual orientation and gender identity, may influence these experiences. Methodology : Exploratory factor analyses and latent class analyses were carried out using data from 428 parents who responded to an online questionnaire as part of the Understanding Inclusion and Exclusion of LGBTQ People project. Results : Three latent classes presented low , moderate or frequent exposure to MAF and MAG. A dominant MAF class included parents who mainly benefited from microaffirmations, while a dominant MAG class reported frequent experiences of microaggressions. Parents in marginalized or precarious situations were more likely to belong to classes reporting fewer MAF ( limited exposure, dominant MAG) , while the dominant MAF class included more monosexual, cisgender individuals with an annual income above $100,000. Conclusions : The majority of LGBTQ+ parents in the sample were exposed, to varying degrees, to MAF and MAG in the educational settings attended by their children. The coexistence of MAG and MAF observed serves as a reminder that the absence of explicit stigma does not guarantee the full inclusion of family diversity. Contribution : This study sheds new light on the experiences of LGBTQ+ parents in Quebec educational settings. It highlights the need to train educational staff on family diversity in order to foster a more inclusive environment. Recommendations are made for adapting education policies to the diverse realities of LGBTQ+ families.

Protocole de gestion psychojudiciaire Parentalité-Conflit-Résolution destiné aux familles vivant un conflit sévère de séparation : portrait collectif de l’expérience des enfants

Stéphanie Janelle, Karine Poitras and Élisabeth Godbout
Research Framework : Families experiencing high conflict separation present complex challenges, especially for the children who bear the brunt of the consequences. The Parenting-Conflict-Resolution (PCR) intervention protocol aims to address the needs of these families by placing the well-being of children at the center of its focus and by meaningfully involving them. To better understand the reality of children participating in such interventions, their experiences must be studied. Objectives : The study aims to describe the experiences of children involved in the protocol by examining their experiences throughout the intervention, changes in their well-being and parent-child relationships, and the factors influencing their experiences. Methodology : This qualitative single case study explores the perspective of the children, parents and psychotherapists involved in the protocol. A thematic content analysis was conducted using interviews with each data source. Results : The interviews reveal that children’s experiences vary widely and that their evolutionary trajectories are diverse. The results highlight the multiplicity of influencing factors within individual, family, and professional systems that shape children’s experiences of the protocol. Conclusions : This article enriches our understanding of children’s experience of specialized psycho-judicial intervention, offering a more nuanced view of their involvement, particularly by considering its risks and benefits and the singularity of each family situation. Contribution : By exploring the experiences of children involved in such intervention aimed at families experiencing PCR, the study directs the reflection on practices that are in the best interests of children, while promoting their optimal development and well-being.

Une matrifocalité « précoce » : à propos des grossesses adolescentes en Martinique

Solange Lafolle and Sophie Gilbert
Research Framework : Adolescent pregnancy is a cause for concern internationally, although regional disparities exist (WHO, 2025; UNFPA, 2025). This research aimed to document the experiences of adolescent mothers in Martinique, a French overseas department characterized by a specific family structure: matrifocality. Objectives : This article explores the life trajectories of adolescent mothers in Martinique by comparing their ideal of familyhood with their own experiences. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the intersection between individual experiences and collective (historical-cultural) issues in the context of these motherhoods. Methodology : This qualitative study is based on the life story method. Individual interviews and a focus group were conducted in Martinique between 2020 and 2021 with 15 adolescent mothers. Case studies and thematic analysis were carried out. Results : The participants report emotional deprivation. Motherhood is idealized and appears as a means of healing wounds. However, the desire for healing embodied by adolescent pregnancy clashes with recurring family and cultural patterns. Conclusions : These maternal roles align with matrifocality, where kinship lies at the heart of the family experience. Although the child’s place is central, it is not enough to heal all the wounds caused by deprivation. Likewise, the ideal family experience does not correspond to their lived experience as daughters nor as mothers. Contributions : This article contributes to the discussion on parenthood and ways for forming family in Martinique, as well as on the gendered ideals conveyed by matrifocality and their role in perpetuating certain patterns. By highlighting the fine line between healing and repetition, it underscores the importance of supporting these adolescents in their identity development, beyond the scope of motherhood.

Comment les jeunes qui ont transitionné socialement uniquement vivent leur détransition ?

Noémie Lambert, Morgane A. Gelly and Annie Pullen Sansfaçon
Research Framework : This exploratory article highlights the experiences of detransition among young people who have socially transitioned. Objectives : Our research aims to broadly explore the experiences of young people who have socially transitioned and detransitioned, in order to identify their experience and the impacts on their well-being. Methodology : A subsample of eight young people who had transitioned socially and then detransitioned was assembled for the purposes of this article. Our data comes from a larger international qualitative study, for which semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 young people aged 16 to 25 years from seven different countries who had discontinued a transition. The data was processed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke , 2019 ; 2023 ). Results : Our data show different experiences of detransition among young people who have socially transitioned. Regarding their relationship with themselves, some report persistent discomfort with their bodies, doubts about their identity, or a feeling of fulfillment, liberation, and self-acceptance. As for their relationships with others, some go through conditional or unconditional support. Some participants report a lack of understanding from their loved ones, while others experience their detransition in secret. Conclusion : Our article demonstrates that the experiences and challenges of detransitioning among young people who have socially transitioned are diverse. It is necessary to provide appropriate psychological support for these young people and promote education about detransition in society. Contribution : This study addresses a lack of qualitative research analyzing the narratives of young people who have socially transitioned, without medical intervention, and then detransitioned. It allows for a more in-depth exploration of these young people’s lived experiences and their relationships with themselves and others.

Soutenir les personnes proches aidantes dans la conciliation des temps sociaux. Vers une gestion proactive

Catherine Beaudry, Andrée-Anne Deschênes and Vicky Lamarche
Research Framework: This article examines the perceptions of working family caregivers regarding access to work-life balance practices offered in their workplace and the circumstances under which they use them. Objectives: The objective is to understand the perceptions of family caregivers who hold professional positions within the Quebec government regarding access to work-life balance practices in their workplace. Methodology: Data were collected through virtual semi-structured interviews with 22 family caregivers working as professionals for the Quebec government. Results: The availability of flexible measures for all employees, regardless of their circumstances or characteristics, facilitates work-life balance for employed caregivers. The universality and flexibility of these measures leave caregivers free to choose to disclose their status in the workplace. Conclusions: A c ollective approach to work-life balance measures contributes to caregivers’ freedom of choice when it comes to disclosing their status. However, this freedom has a downside. Concealing one’s status can deprive caregivers of significant social and emotional support, particularly as the level of care and support to loved ones increases. Contribution: This article highlights the importance of combining instrumental organizational support, which takes the form of work-life balance measures, with affective organizational support, which allows for recognition of the unique needs of working caregivers.

Accès, trajectoires et résultats de la réunification familiale : une analyse des disparités raciales en protection de la jeunesse

Alicia Boatswain-Kyte and Alexandra H. Borrelli
Research Framework: Family reunification is a central objective of child protection, grounded in a commitment to the continuity of family ties and respect for the best interests of the child. However, a growing body of research highlights the existence of racial disparities in access to measures, clinical decision making, and the trajectories of children involved with child protection services. Objectives: This article explores racial disparities in the outcomes of the family reunification process for Black children in the child protection services, compared to White children. Methodology: The study is based on a secondary analysis of administrative data collected between 2007 and 2017 on children under the care of the Department of Youth Protection in Montreal. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regressions to examine the relationships between clinical and sociodemographic variables and the probability of successful family reunification. Results: Significant differences were observed between racial groups. Cases involving Black children are significantly less likely to result in a successful family reunification than those involving white children, and reunification is also attempted less frequently. After controlling for clinical service characteristics and sociodemographic factors, we found that sex, the source of referral, court involvement, placement instability, cumulative duration of foster care, and language spoken at home influence the likelihood of successful reunification. Being a Black child remains a factor associated with a statistically significant decrease in the probability of successful reunification, even after adjusting for all other variables. Conclusions: The disparities observed between the family reunification trajectories of Black and white children reflect complex institutional and social dynamics. These disparities may be linked, among other factors, to decision-making practices among child protection workers as well as to unequal access to reunification support services, particularly in Black communities. Although the findings do not establish a causal link, they underscore the need to critically examine systemic conditions that influence the experiences of Black children and families. Contribution: By approaching family reunification as a process that includes access to this measure, the attempt to achieve it, and its outcome, this study takes into account situations where reunification is not considered or fails, thereby providing a clearer understanding of the points in the process where inequalities in child protection arise.

Se dévoiler à l’école : entre reconnaissance et micro-agressions, le vécu de préadolescent·es issu·es de familles homopaternelles adoptives interraciales

Gabrielle Comtois and Éric Feugé
Research Framework: The identity of preadolescents from interracial adoptive gay-father families lies at the crossroads of adoption, racialization and their parents’ homosexuality. This reality can complicate their coming-out process, especially at an age when they must both conform to their peer group and assert their individuality. Objectives: The study aims to explore these preadolescents’ comfort level with disclosing their family structure, their perceptions of how their peer react to their coming out, and their coping strategies. Methodology: Videoconference interviews were conducted with 14 preadolescents, and verbatims were subjected to a reflexive thematic analysis. Results: The results indicate a lack of understanding regarding interracial adoptive families with same-sex fathers. Although coming out is generally a positive experience, heteronormative, bionormative and racist behaviors persist. Coping strategies include concealment, selective disclosure, peer education, and connecting with other children of gay parents. Conclusion: This lack of awareness reflects a view of the family that remains persistence of heteronormative and bionormative. Stigmatization of marginalized identities often occurs implicitly and unconsciously. Coping strategies are consistent with those documented in the literature, particularly regarding concealment and selective disclosure. Contribution: This study sheds light on the specific challenges faced by this population by documenting their socialization process in school settings and emphasizes t he importance of demystifying so-called non-traditional families and breaking down gender stereotypes.