Direct observation of mother-child communication in pediatric cancer: assessment of verbal and non-verbal behavior and emotion.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the acceptability and feasibility of coding observed verbal and nonverbal behavioral and emotional components of mother-child communication among families of children with cancer.


METHODS
Mother-child dyads (N=33, children ages 5-17 years) were asked to engage in a videotaped 15-min conversation about the child's cancer. Coding was done using the Iowa Family Interaction Rating Scale (IFIRS).


RESULTS
Acceptability and feasibility of direct observation in this population were partially supported: 58% consented and 81% of those (47% of all eligible dyads) completed the task; trained raters achieved 78% agreement in ratings across codes. The construct validity of the IFIRS was demonstrated by expected associations within and between positive and negative behavioral/emotional code ratings and between mothers' and children's corresponding code ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct observation of mother-child communication about childhood cancer has the potential to be an acceptable and feasible method of assessing verbal and nonverbal behavior and emotion in this population.
Dunn
Madeleine J
MJ
Department of Psychology & Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37203, USA.
Rodriguez
Erin M
EM
Miller
Kimberly S
KS
Gerhardt
Cynthia A
CA
Vannatta
Kathryn
K
Saylor
Megan
M
Scheule
C Melanie
CM
Compas
Bruce E
BE
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D012917:Social Adjustment; D014705:Verbal Behavior