Comparison of context-based interaction patterns of mothers who are homeless with their preschool children.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the influence of context on interaction patterns used by mothers who are homeless with their preschool children during book-reading and game-playing activities. The impact of mothers' previously determined language functioning on their contextual use of facilitating language utterances was also examined.


METHODS
Using a prospective, nonrandomized, comparison group design, mothers read a book and played a game with their preschool children. Facilitating language utterances produced by the mothers in 16 mother-child dyads during each activity were analyzed.


RESULTS
Regardless of their language functioning, no significant contextual differences in percentage use of facilitating language utterances were found across mothers. Overall maternal use of facilitating utterances was less than 50%. Across both contexts, mothers used few different types of facilitating language utterances.


CONCLUSIONS
This exploratory study provides initial evidence of overall consistency of facilitating language utterance use by mothers who are homeless during interactions with their preschool children across contexts, regardless of maternal language functioning. This study provides an initial framework for future research investigating the interactions of families who are homeless and discusses possible language interventions for these at-risk families.
O'Neil-Pirozzi
Therese M
TM
Northeastern University, Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, 103 Forsyth Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA. t.oneil-pirozzi@neu.edu
D000328:Adult; D002663:Child Language; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology; D018453:Homeless Youth; D006801:Humans; D007805:Language Development Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D015588:Observer Variation; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014705:Verbal Behavior