Interaction Styles in Minority Caregivers

Abstract

This article describes caretaker interactive and communicative behaviors in various minority cultures in the context of independent/interdependent dimensions of the social world. Attention regulation, pragmatic input, and object engagement and play exemplify how caretakers from minority cultures interact with children differently than caretakers from American and European cultures. Understanding these behaviors can assist therapists in planning language-facilitation interventions for children with language delay or impairment.

Associations between early maternal behaviours and child language at 36 months in a cohort experiencing adversity

“…Yet, compared with women whose main language was English at baseline, women who spoke a main language other than English were significantly less likely to use responsive whquestions, yes/no questions and labels, but more likely to imitate and unsuccessfully redirect. Findings align with past research suggesting that directive, less responsive parenting practices may be typical in different cultures (Vigil and Hwa-Froelich 2004). However, the higher rates of imitations for mothers who spoke a home language other than English also suggests that they were more responsive to their child's vocalizations.…”

“…Findings align with past research suggesting that directive, less responsive parenting practices may be typical in different cultures (Vigil and Hwa-Froelich 2004). Yet, compared with women whose main language was English at baseline, women who spoke a main language other than English were significantly less likely to use responsive whquestions, yes/no questions and labels, but more likely to imitate and unsuccessfully redirect.…”

“…At younger ages, or during earlier developmental stages, successful redirection (i.e., when an adult shifts the child's attention from what they are focused on to what the adult wants them to focus on), whilst not responsive, can be appropriate for a child's level and engagement (Lloyd and Masur 2014). Furthermore, beliefs about children and child-rearing vary with cultural background, with directive parenting practices typical in many cultures (Vigil and Hwa-Froelich 2004). Furthermore, beliefs about children and child-rearing vary with cultural background, with directive parenting practices typical in many cultures (Vigil and Hwa-Froelich 2004).…”

“…In particular, younger infants may benefit from successful redirection in order to acquire early wordobject associations (Matatyaho and Gogate 2008). Furthermore, beliefs about children and child-rearing vary with cultural background, with directive parenting practices typical in many cultures (Vigil and Hwa-Froelich 2004). Feasibly the direction or strength of associations between directives and child language outcomes may differ by cultural group.…”

Children's psychological adjustment in dual‐ and single‐ethnic families: Coregulation, socialization values, and emotion regulation in a 7‐year follow‐up study

“…Dyadic interactions differ in the degree of infants' exploring environment versus attention to social relations, eye contact versus physical contacts, and explicit versus implicit guidance of self-regulation between independent (individualistic) and interdependent (collectivistic) cultures (Bornstein, 2013;Keller et al, 2004;Kirmayer, 2001;Vigil & Hwa-Froelich, 2004). Some research suggests that specific culturally encouraged parent-infant interactions are associated with children's optimal psychological adjustment in different ethnic groups (Feldman et al, 2006;Keller et al, 2004;Vigil & Hwa-Froelich, 2004). In most cultural contexts, however, parents' sensitive visual, vocal, and affective coordination with the infant's signals seem to predict better psychological adjustment (Feldman & Masalha, 2007).…”