Identity Negotiation and Resilience among Families with Stunted Children

Prita S. Nurcandrani , Widodo Muktiyo, Drajat T. Kartono, Andre N. Rahmanto

Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universitas Amikom Purwokerto

Stunting in children is generally understood as a health problem related to malnutrition and socioeconomic conditions. However, for families experiencing it, stunting also has social consequences in the form of stigma that can affect how parents view themselves. This study aims to explore how families with stunted children negotiate their identities while building resilience through the process of communication within the family. This study uses a qualitative approach with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) method. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with 13 parents who have stunted children in Banjarnegara Regency, Indonesia. The analysis shows that a stunting diagnosis often becomes the starting point for parental identity disruption, characterized by feelings of guilt, shame, and social pressure through comments and labeling from the surrounding environment. In facing this situation, families developed various identity negotiation strategies, including building a defensive identity, reconstructing the meaning of experiences, strengthening spiritual identity, and forming a collective family identity through internal communication and spousal support. This communication process serves as an important mechanism in building family resilience. This study shows that resilience in the context of stunting is not only related to psychological adaptation, but also to the family's ability to reconstruct their identity communicatively. These findings expand the study of resilience communication by placing identity negotiation as a key element in the adaptation process of families facing social stigma related to stunting.

Article link: https://www.asianinstituteofresearch.org/JSParchives/identity-negotiation-and-resilience-among-families-with-stunted-children