Relationship -based, dyadic Early Head Start intervention

Date

2004

Authors

Vele, Elisa Maria

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

ProQuest Dissertations & Theses

YU Faculty Profile

Abstract

This project assessed the effects of a relationship-based, dyadic Early Head Start (EHS) intervention on mothers' responsiveness, child attention and play and whether changes in maternal responsiveness relate to child outcome after 10 months. This study assessed whether videotape analysis intervention when combined with EHS services enhances maternal responsiveness more so than EHS services alone. Videotaped observations of solitary and dyadic play sessions were conducted on 68 mother-child dyads and interviews were conducted with mothers. Observational coding was used to obtain information about maternal responsiveness, child attention, and child play. Interviews were conducted to collect information about family characteristics.;Results indicated that after 10 months, mothers in EHS demonstrated changes in their responsiveness compared to non-intervention mothers, but the changes varied for mothers of younger and older children. Mothers of infants were more directive after intervention and mothers of toddlers were less directive post intervention. Mothers of toddlers were also less expressively affective after intervention. EHS children did not show more advanced attention or play than children who were not in the intervention. Changes in mothers' responsiveness did not relate to children's attention and play outcomes. However, mothers who participated in videotape analysis intervention while in EHS exhibited better engagement with their children beyond the demonstrated effects of EHS mothers who did not receive additional intervention.;Although the small sample size and short-term assessment interval made it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the effects of EHS on maternal and child outcomes, some noteworthy findings emerged. Together, these findings suggest that 10-months of EHS intervention impacts aspects of maternal responsiveness beyond the effects of normative interactive changes between mothers and their young children. Furthermore, a combined approach of behavioral and therapeutic intervention (EHS + videotape analysis intervention) is more successful short-term in enhancing maternal interactive style.

Description

Keywords

Developmental psychology., Ethnic studies.

Citation

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 66-02, Section: B, page: 6260.;Advisors: William Arsenio.