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Assessing communicative intents in maltreated toddlers
Abstract
There is evidence that maltreated school-aged children have an elevated incidence of expressive language delay, which is often attributed to the cumulative effects of maltreatment. Younger children and toddlers do not consistently demonstrate this delay. There is some ambiguity whether language delays can be observed in toddlers since language is not well developed at this age. However, if gestural communication is also studied as part of language development, a broader sample of behavior becomes available. Intentional communication includes the use of words and gestures to express a child's intent or desire. Examining maltreated toddlers' intentional communication provides an opportunity to study how language develops under less than optimal conditions. This study examines communicative intents in maltreated and nonmaltreated toddlers (ages 22 to 31 months) and the caregiving interactions of their mothers. The sample is composed of thirty-nine mother-toddler dyads from a Mid-Western city. Maternal maltreatment was documented on thirteen lower class toddlers, who were matched on sex, age, race and SES. Ten middle class dyads composed another comparison group. The lower class toddlers were given the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) as part of a larger study. Videotapes of a play session between mother-toddler dyads were coded using The Parent/Caregiver Interaction Scale to rate maternal behaviors plus two child communication inventories to code Intentional Communication and Negotiation of Failed Messages. Competency scores were computed for all toddlers on Intentional Communication and Developmental Competence was compared on the lower class toddlers. Two scores compared maternal appropriateness to toddler reactivity and communication competence. Results showed that maltreatment was not related to child Intentional Communication, except that maltreated toddlers acknowledged their mothers' messages more frequently. Social class accounted for differences on most maternal and some toddler variables. Developmental Competence accounted for significant differences in lower class toddlers' Intentional Communication and Social Competence. Patterns of high maternal verbal interaction and control over child's activities were related to toddler's competence in Intentional Communication, suggesting that mothers who are more verbal and appropriate in their control have more competent toddlers.
Subject Area
Developmental psychology|Language|Early childhood education
Recommended Citation
Carlton, Sally Barnard, "Assessing communicative intents in maltreated toddlers" (1992). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9305809.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9305809