Interaction Effects on Engagement 1 The Effects of Mother’s Style of Interaction on Children’s Engagement: Implications for Using Responsive Interventions with Parents

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of mothers ’ style of interaction on children's interactive engagement. The study included a sample of 30 children from Korea, including chronologically age matched groups of children with disabilities (N =13) and children without disabilities (N =17). Parents were videotape recorded while playing with their children with a standard set of developmentally appropriate toys. These observations were coded with the Child Behavior Rating Scale to assess children's engagement and the Maternal Behavior Rating Scale to assess mother's style interaction. Comparisons of these two groups of children and mothers indicated significant differences both in the level of children's engagement and mothers’ style of interacting. Children with disabilities were less actively engaged than children without disabilities. Mothers were less responsive and more directive while interacting with children with disabilities. Regression analyses indicated that maternal responsiveness was a significant predictor of children's engagement. These results are described in terms (a) factors that contribute to children's developmental growth and (b) the kinds of intervention objectives that should b