Maternal literacy and associations between education and the cognitive home environment in low-income families.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether maternal literacy level accounts for associations between educational level and the cognitive home environment in low-income families.


METHODS
Analysis of 369 mother-infant dyads participating in a long-term study related to early child development.


METHODS
Urban public hospital.


METHODS
Low-income mothers of 6-month-old infants.


METHODS
Maternal literacy level was assessed using the Woodcock-Johnson III/Bateria III Woodcock-Munoz Tests of Achievement, Letter-Word Identification Test. Maternal educational level was assessed by determining the last grade that had been completed by the mother.


METHODS
The cognitive home environment (provision of learning materials, verbal responsivity, teaching, and shared reading) was assessed using StimQ, an office-based interview measure.


RESULTS
In unadjusted analyses, a maternal literacy level of ninth grade or higher was associated with increases in scores for the overall StimQ and each of 4 subscales, whereas a maternal educational level of ninth grade or higher was associated with increases in scores for the overall StimQ and 3 of 4 subscales. In simultaneous multiple linear regression models including both literacy and educational levels, literacy continued to be associated with scores for the overall StimQ (adjusted mean difference, 3.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-5.7) and all subscales except teaching, whereas maternal educational level was no longer significantly associated with scores for the StimQ (1.8; 0.5-4.0) or any of its subscales.


CONCLUSIONS
Literacy level may be a more specific indicator of risk than educational level in low-income families. Studies of low-income families should include direct measures of literacy. Pediatricians should develop strategies to identify mothers with low literacy levels and promote parenting behaviors to foster cognitive development in these at-risk families.
Green
Cori M
CM
Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine and Bellevue Hospital Center, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Berkule
Samantha B
SB
Dreyer
Benard P
BP
Fierman
Arthur H
AH
Huberman
Harris S
HS
Klass
Perri E
PE
Tomopoulos
Suzy
S
Yin
Hsiang Shonna
HS
Morrow
Lesley M
LM
Mendelsohn
Alan L
AL
D000328:Adult; D002657:Child Development; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires