title: Mothers' physical interventions in toddler play in a low-income, African American sample.
abstract: This mixed method study examined 28 low-income African American mothers' physical interventions in their 14-month-old toddlers' play. Inductive methods were used to identify six physical intervention behaviors, the affect accompanying physical interventions, and apparent reasons for intervening. Nonparametric statistical analyses determined that toddlers experienced physical intervention largely in the context of positive maternal affect. Mothers of boys expressed highly positive affect while physically intervening more than mothers of girls. Most physically intervening acts seemed to be motivated by maternal intent to show or tell children how to play or to correct play deemed incorrect. Neutral affect was the most common toddler affect type following physical intervention, but boys were more likely than girls to be upset immediately after physical interventions. Physical interventions intended to protect health and safety seemed the least likely to elicit toddler upset.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, United States. Electronic address: ispaj@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Jean M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ispa
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, United States. Electronic address: Claire.Cook@mtsu.edu.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Claire Cook
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, United States. Electronic address: eharmeye@uwyo.edu.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Harmeyer
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri, United States. Electronic address: rudyd@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Duane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rudy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D002668:Child Rearing; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009035:Mothers; D016487:Parenting; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty; D012449:Safety; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: African American parenting; Childrearing goals; Low-income; Maternal physical intervention; Toddler play