Parent-Child Interactions in Handicapped Preschoolers: The Relation Between Parent Behaviors and Compliance

Abstract

Abstract Videotaped 63 children with different handicapping conditions during a compliance activity with their parents to evaluate the relation between parent behaviors and compliance. The sample included autistic, mentally retarded, language impaired, and nonhandicapped children. Parents of autistic children used more structuring and prompting behaviors (e.g., nonverbal attention-getting) than other groups. Autistic children demonstrated less compliance and more avoidance (i.e., ignoring and leaving the area) than children in any other group. Across all groups, compliance was correlated positively with parents' use of instructions, cues, and reinforcement, whereas noncompliance was associated in a positive direction with parents' use of structure (e.g., verbal attention-getting). Implications for parent training programs and future research are discussed.