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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine language acquisition and development in multiple birth children compared to singleton children in order to examine how decreased maternal sensitivity amongst mothers of multiple compared to mothers of singletons affects language acquisition skills in children.. The first phase of research for this study started with research on maternal sensitivity, specifically differing levels of it amongst mothers of different types of children, either by singletons of multiples, and potential causes for these differing levels of maternal sensitivity. The second phase focused on language skills of multiple and singletons at a young age and comparing them together. The third phase looked at exactly how maternal sensitivity could affect language development and correlations between the two. The final phase detailed implications for the results found. The results of the study revealed that there are significant correlations between maternal sensitivity and language acquisition. Maternal sensitivity is markedly decreased in mothers of multiples due to stress of raising multiple and the overall inability to give as much time to each child in a multiple as a mother of a singleton would be able to which researchers have seen to lead to language delays amongst children of a multiple. By identifying that decreased maternal sensitivity is inevitable amongst mothers of multiples and the important of it to language development, we can find more ways to support the mothers to overcome some of the stress and create special language programs for multiple to overcome any early language acquisition delays to aid their transition in grade school.
Publication Date
2015
Subject Major(s)
Psychology
Disciplines
Child Psychology | Developmental Psychology
Current Academic Year
Freshman
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Mary C. Boyes
Rights
© The Author(s)