Open AccessStability and change in mother–child planning over middle childhood.
Author(s) -
Mary Gauvain,
Susan M. Perez,
Z Reisz
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
developmental psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.318
H-Index - 213
eISSN - 1939-0599
pISSN - 0012-1649
DOI - 10.1037/dev0000456
Subject(s) - psycinfo , psychology , developmental psychology , normative , multilevel model , child development , cognitive development , early childhood , social change , longitudinal study , task (project management) , cognition , medline , philosophy , statistics , mathematics , management , epistemology , machine learning , neuroscience , political science , computer science , law , economics , economic growth
This longitudinal research examines maternal and child behaviors during joint planning over a 3-year period of middle childhood. 118 mother-child dyads were observed once a year beginning when the children were 8 years of age. Coding focused on mother and child planning behaviors, maternal instructional support, and child task engagement. Multilevel modeling was used to compare 3 models of stability and change: stability, normative developmental change, and individual differences in change. Results indicate that normative developmental change was the best predictor of mother and child planning behaviors and maternal guidance. Individual differences in rate of change predicted mothers' instructional support in the use of physical demonstration and child engagement measured by attention, task responsibility, and cooperation. Task difficulty contributed to these patterns. This research advances understanding of social interaction on cognitive tasks for partners in an established relationship. Implications for theory and future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record