Abstract
Contextual variations in mother-child and father-child verbal communication were examined among 80 U.S. families from Kansas who were predominately Caucasian (85%) and middle-class. There were 41 girls and 39 boys between 15- and 18-months-old observed with their mothers and fathers in separate play and caregiving laboratory situations. Parent and child behaviors were coded for verbal initiation and response strategies. MANOVA’s revealed more differences between mother’s and father’s verbal communication strategies in the play context than the caregiving context. Boy’s and girl’s verbal communication was relatively similar across contexts. The interactions between gender and context are discussed in relation to gender role development in the family.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Laura Villa, Kim Kerksiek, Elaine Willerton, Jennifer Gomez, Mindy Rainbolt, Kelly Hardin, Carrie Blair, Alex Miller, and Shonna Blair for their help in data coding. We are grateful to the children, parents and children who participated in the research.
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Lindsey, E.W., Cremeens, P.R. & Caldera, Y.M. Gender Differences in Mother-toddler and Father-toddler Verbal Initiations and Responses during a Caregiving and Play Context. Sex Roles 63, 399–411 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9803-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-010-9803-5