Comparison of context-based interaction patterns of mothers who are homeless with their preschool children.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the influence of context on interaction patterns used by mothers who are homeless with their preschool children during book-reading and game-playing activities. The impact of mothers' previously determined language functioning on their contextual use of facilitating language utterances was also examined.

METHOD:
Using a prospective, nonrandomized, comparison group design, mothers read a book and played a game with their preschool children. Facilitating language utterances produced by the mothers in 16 mother-child dyads during each activity were analyzed.

RESULTS:
Regardless of their language functioning, no significant contextual differences in percentage use of facilitating language utterances were found across mothers. Overall maternal use of facilitating utterances was less than 50%. Across both contexts, mothers used few different types of facilitating language utterances.

CONCLUSIONS:
This exploratory study provides initial evidence of overall consistency of facilitating language utterance use by mothers who are homeless during interactions with their preschool children across contexts, regardless of maternal language functioning. This study provides an initial framework for future research investigating the interactions of families who are homeless and discusses possible language interventions for these at-risk families.

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Author information

Author/s: O'Neil-Pirozzi, Therese M (TM);

Affiliation: Northeastern University, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 103 Forsyth Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA. t.oneil-pirozzi(-atsign-)neu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: American journal of speech-language pathology / American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (Am J Speech Lang Pathol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Aug; vol 15 (issue 3) : pp 278-88

Dates: Created 2006/08/09; Completed 2007/11/02;

PMID: 16896177, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult
Child Language
Child, Preschool
Female
Homeless Persons - psychology
Homeless Youth
Humans

Language Development Disorders - etiology
Male
Mother-Child Relations
Observer Variation
Poverty - psychology
Socioeconomic Factors
Verbal Behavior

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