A comparison of parents’ attitudes and locus of control between normal and specific language disabled children

The purpose of this study was to compare locus of control of specific language disabled children and normal school-aged children, and relate this to parents' attitudes toward the achievement behavior of their children. Two questionnaires were administered to forty families in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The two main groups contained twenty ten and eleven year old girls and boys with specific language disabilities and twenty ten and eleven year old girls and boys without language disabilities. Analysis of the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility questionnaire found that children with a specific language disability have a significantly lower internal locus of control for both positive and negative events than do children without a language disability. The analysis of the Parent Reaction Questionnaire revealed that parents' attitudes toward the achievement behavior of children with a specific language disability did not differ significantly from the attitudes of parents who have a normally achieving child. By comparing both questionnaires it was found that mothers' attitudes do not seem to influence their children's locus of control but that the fathers' positive reinforcement was an important influence on their children's locus of control. The need for public health nurses working with preschool and school-aged language disabled children was identified to promote the prevention of behavioral problems. The implications of early identification of emotional and social problems with specific language disabled children were discussed. Uses of the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility questionnaire were discussed for screening programs and giving direction to parents for child management strategies.Applied Science, Faculty ofNursing, School ofGraduat