A mediation meta-analysis of the role of maternal responsivity in the association between socioeconomic risk and children’s language |
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| Authors: | Sahar Borairi Pasco Fearon Sheri Madigan Andre Plamondon Jennifer Jenkins |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;2. Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK;3. Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada;4. FSÉ Department of Educational Foundations and Practices, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
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| Abstract: | This meta-analysis tested maternal responsivity as a mediator of the association between socioeconomic risk and children's preschool language abilities. The search included studies up to 2017 and meta-analytic structural equation modeling, allowed us to examine the magnitude of the indirect effect across 17 studies (k = 19). The meta-analysis included 6433 predominantly White, English speaking children (Mage = 36 months; 50% female) from Western, industrialized countries. All paths in the model were statistically significant, notably, the indirect effect was significant (b = −.052), showing that maternal responsivity may be a proximal intervening variable between socioeconomic risk and children's language development. Moderator analyses found that the indirect effect was stronger for sensitive parenting than warmth and when parenting was assessed in the family home. |
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