Exploring parental behavior and child interactive engagement: A study on children with a significant cognitive and motor developmental delay

Ines Van Keer; Stephy Colla; Karla Van Leeuwen; Carla Vlaskamp; Eva Ceulemans; Karel Hoppenbrouwers; Annemie Desoete; Bea Maes

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.002

Exploring parental behavior and child interactive engagement: A study on children with a significant cognitive and motor developmental delay

Res Dev Disabil. 2017 May:64:131-142. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.002. Epub 2017 Apr 10.

Authors

Ines Van Keer¹, Stephy Colla², Karla Van Leeuwen², Carla Vlaskamp³, Eva Ceulemans², Karel Hoppenbrouwers⁴, Annemie Desoete⁵, Bea Maes²

Affiliations

¹ Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, bus 3765, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: ines.vankeer@kuleuven.be.
² Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, bus 3765, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
³ University of Groningen, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS Groningen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Medicine, Kapucijnenvoer 35 blok d, bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
⁵ University of Ghent, Faculty of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.

PMID: 28407535
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.04.002

Abstract

Background and aims: Parenting factors are one of the most striking gaps in the current scientific literature on the development of young children with significant cognitive and motor disabilities. We aim to explore the characteristics of, and the association between, parental behavior and children's interactive engagement within this target group.

Methods and procedures: Twenty-five parent-child dyads (with children aged 6-59 months) were video-taped during a 15-min unstructured play situation. Parents were also asked to complete the Parental Behavior Scale for toddlers. The video-taped observations were scored using the Child and Maternal Behavior Rating Scales.

Outcomes and results: Low levels of parental discipline and child initiation were found. Parental responsivity was positively related to child attention and initiation.

Conclusions and implications: Compared to children with no or other levels of disabilities, this target group exhibits large differences in frequency levels and, to a lesser extent, the concrete operationalization of parenting domains. Further, this study confirms the importance of sensitive responsivity as the primary variable in parenting research.

Keywords: Child interactive engagement; Parental behavior; Profound and multiple disabilities; Severe and multiple disabilities.

MeSH terms

Behavior Rating Scale
Child, Preschool
Developmental Disabilities / diagnosis
Developmental Disabilities / psychology*
Female
Humans
Infant
Intellectual Disability / diagnosis
Intellectual Disability / psychology*
Male
Maternal Behavior / psychology*
Motor Skills Disorders / diagnosis
Motor Skills Disorders / psychology*
Parent-Child Relations*
Parents / psychology
Play and Playthings / psychology*
Severity of Illness Index
Videotape Recording