A COMPARISON OF MATERNAL, PATERNAL, AND DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL INFANTS

BARBARA RUTH DONNELLY, Purdue University

Abstract

Previous research suggests that parents will overestimate the developmental capabilities of their young infants (7 to 24 months) and that mothers' estimates would exceed fathers'. To test the hypothesis, parental estimations of 15 typical and 15 atypical infants were obtained using the Modified Bayley Maternal Interview Instrument. Estimations were compared to diagnostician evaluations using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Analysis of mental age (MA) scores yielded significant effects for type and source. As expected, typical infants were significantly more developmentally advanced (MA = 17.1) than atypical infants (MA = 9.6). Mother and father estimations of MA were equivalent (M = 12.63 vs. 12.62, respectively), which in turn were significantly lower than the diagnostician's (MA = 14.74). All correlations among mothers', fathers', and diagnostician's evaluations were highly significant (p < .01). These parents appear to be reliable estimators of infant development. To determine if infant temperament differentially influences parental perceptions, infant temperament was assessed using the Carey Infant Questionnaire and Toddler Temperament Questionnaire. Analysis of mental age scores by type, temperament category, and source again yielded significant main effects for type and source, but no significant temperament effects or interactions. Maternal and paternal estimations were equivalent and approximately 2 months lower than the diagnostician's evaluation, but parents of easy and intermediate-low (one category) and intermediate-high and difficult (one category) infants were equivalent. The potential influence of maternal attitude on accuracy of perception was examined using maternal responses to the Cohler Maternal Attitude Scale. Analyses of difference scores for five maternal attitude factors yielded one significant effect. Mothers who scored low on "Emotional Complexity in Child Care" gave significantly less accurate estimations than mothers who scored high. Thus, mothers who deny concerns and assistance regarding child care may be more likely to underestimate their infant's developmental capabilities. In addition, differences between mothers of atypical and typical infants were examined for the five factors of maternal attitude using a one-way MANOVA. No difference in maternal attitude was found for the two groups of mothers. Results of one-way ANOVAs indicated that groups differed significantly only on "Appropriate versus Inappropriate Closeness with the Child" indicating that mothers of typical infants tended toward more appropriate closeness with their infants.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Special education

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