Ines Van Keer1, Eva Ceulemans2, Nadja Bodner2, Sien Vandesande3, Karla Van Leeuwen3, Bea Maes3. 1. Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Parenting and Special Education, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ines.vankeer@kuleuven.be. 2. Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences Research Unit Quantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, Tiensestraat 102 - box 3713, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 3. Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Research Unit Parenting and Special Education, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, box 3765, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous research indicates that young children with a significant cognitive and motor developmental delay show low levels of interactive engagement, their parents are generally responsive towards them and these variables are positively correlated. Adapting a micro-level approach, we aim to go beyond macro-level and correlational analyses by charting the frequency, intra-individual co-occurrence and inter-individual temporal dependency of specific interactive behaviors. METHODS & PROCEDURES: Twenty-nine parent-child dyads (with children aged 6-59 months) were video-taped during a 15-minute unstructured play situation. Based on a self-developed coding scheme, interactive behaviors were coded continuously and analyzed using a three-step sequential analysis approach. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Parents and children systematically combine either more socially-oriented or more object-oriented behaviors. Socially-oriented behaviors are less frequent in children, especially looking at and touching the partner occurs less. Socially- and object-oriented behavioral clusters are generally independent from each other and instigate/maintain the same type of behaviors in the interaction partner. While children's socially oriented behavior(al cluster)s seem to need a parental 'trigger', parents will more often independently engage with their child despite low child responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Further intervention-oriented research is needed to confirm this study's results and translate them into concrete guidelines for parents.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Previous research indicates that young children with a significant cognitive and motor developmental delay show low levels of interactive engagement, their parents are generally responsive towards them and these variables are positively correlated. Adapting a micro-level approach, we aim to go beyond macro-level and correlational analyses by charting the frequency, intra-individual co-occurrence and inter-individual temporal dependency of specific interactive behaviors. METHODS & PROCEDURES: Twenty-nine parent-child dyads (with children aged 6-59 months) were video-taped during a 15-minute unstructured play situation. Based on a self-developed coding scheme, interactive behaviors were coded continuously and analyzed using a three-step sequential analysis approach. OUTCOMES & RESULTS: Parents and children systematically combine either more socially-oriented or more object-oriented behaviors. Socially-oriented behaviors are less frequent in children, especially looking at and touching the partner occurs less. Socially- and object-oriented behavioral clusters are generally independent from each other and instigate/maintain the same type of behaviors in the interaction partner. While children's socially oriented behavior(al cluster)s seem to need a parental 'trigger', parents will more often independently engage with their child despite low child responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Further intervention-oriented research is needed to confirm this study's results and translate them into concrete guidelines for parents.
Authors: Yu-Hsin Hsieh; Maria Borgestig; Deepika Gopalarao; Joy McGowan; Mats Granlund; Ai-Wen Hwang; Helena Hemmingsson Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-12 Impact factor: 3.390