Poster #154 - Predictive Factors for Language Development in Children Experiencing Homelessness: Child age and Parent-Child Relationships

• In Event: 1-169 - Poster Session 04
  In Poster Session: PS 04 Section - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Integrative Statement

Family homelessness is a context of substantial risk, including chronic risks associated with extreme poverty as well as acute risks related to specific homeless episodes (Bassuk, DeCandia, Beach, & Berman, 2014; Cutuli & Herbers, 2014). Infants and toddlers who experience homelessness have shown elevated rates of developmental delays as well as later academic difficulties (Fantuzzo & Perlman, 2010; Haskett, Armstrong, & Tisdale, 2016). In this study, we aimed to understand what contributes to language delays within the context of homelessness, and what factors may buffer early childhood language development from those risks. We expected to find evidence of below average language development within this high risk sample, and we expected that differences in language development would be related to differences in parent’s educational background, parent distress, social support, and parent-child responsiveness.
The sample included 75 children and their parents residing at six different family shelters in Philadelphia. Children ranged in age from 1-33 months (M = 11.0, SD = 9.0) participated in the project. Parents responded to structured interviews and engaged their children in an observational parent-child interaction and developmental screener. Parents reported on their educational background and perceived social support. Additionally, the Symptom Checklist (Derogatis et al., 1974) was used to assess parent distress. The 15-minute free play interaction was video-recorded while researchers were not present in the room. The videos were later coded for parent-child responsiveness according to the coding scheme for mutually responsive orientation (Aksan, Kochanska, & Ortmann, 2006) with good interrater reliability (ICC > .71). Children’s language development was assessed with standardized scores based on the Brigance Early Childhood Screen III (Brigance, 2013).
Overall, the average standardized language score was 96.6, which trends towards significantly lower than the population average of 100 (t[73] = 1.84, p = .071). We used a multiple regression model to predict differences in language development from parents’ educational background, parent distress, social support, and parent-child responsiveness controlling for child’s age. Only child age (β = -.599, p < .001) and parent-child responsiveness (β = .249, p = .017) emerged as significant predictors of language development. Older children had lower language scores on average, and responsiveness in the parent-child relationship predicted higher language scores.
Though the overall sample mean was not significantly lower than the population average, age was negatively associated with standardized language scores. It is likely that language delays are more difficult to detect in preverbal infants, and it is also possible that older toddlers are more impacted by risks associated with homelessness than young infants. Regardless, responsiveness in the parent-child relationship predicted language scores beyond important associated factors including parent distress and educational background. This study provides insight into both the risks posed by episodes of homelessness and the potential for parent responsiveness to protect against those risks.

Authors

• Katherine Hayes, Villanova University
  Presenting Author

• Kristin Jennings, Villanova University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Janette E. Herbers, Villanova University
  Non-Presenting Author