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Biomedical subjects

G H Brody

Publications and source records attributed to G H Brody.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Associations of maternal and paternal direct and differential behavior with sibling relationships: contemporaneous and longitudinal analyses.

In this study we examined associations of 4 paternal direct and differential behaviors with concurrent and longitudinal assessments of sibling relationships, as well as the unique contributions of mothers' and fathers' behavior to the sibling relationship variables. Observational assessments of maternal and paternal direct and differential behavior, as well as observational and self-report assessments of sibling relationship quality, were obtained. Only one difference emerged between rates of maternal and paternal behavior toward the children; however, paternal behavior accounted for unique variance in sibling relationship quality more often than did maternal behavior. The results are discussed in terms of relative parental availability.

Birth Order↗
PubMed1991

Observations of the role relations and behavior between older children with mental retardation and their younger siblings.

Children with mental retardation and their younger siblings without retardation were observed interacting in three naturally occurring in-home contexts (toy play, television viewing, and snack). Comparison siblings without retardation who were matched on age, sex, race, parental marital status, education, and family income were also observed. Interactions between children with retardation and their siblings were characterized by accentuated role asymmetries that favored the younger siblings, whereas the older siblings were dominant in the comparison group. No differences in affect were found between the sibling groups. The competence of the child with mental retardation reliably predicted sibling role asymmetries, and the observational contexts influenced sibling behavior in both groups. Gender differences in roles and behavior were minimal.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Ascribed role relations between children with mental retardation and their younger siblings.

Ascribed, parent-mediated childcare roles of younger same-sex siblings of children with mental retardation were compared to roles assumed by a matched group of comparison siblings. Role reversals were evident for younger siblings of children with mental retardation. These reversals were consistent with roles assumed by the siblings during observed interactions. Increased younger sibling childcare roles were related to less conflicted sibling relationships but were not predictive of friendship or socialization experiences of younger siblings. Younger siblings of children with mental retardation had fewer household chores than did comparison agemates. Children with mental retardation had fewer friendship contacts and out-of-home activities than did their peers without mental retardation. Important within-group differences were evident.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1990

Assessing individual differences: effects of responding to prior questionnaires on the substantive and psychometric properties of self-esteem and depression assessments.

It has become a common practice among psychological researchers to administer batteries of individual difference assessments to research participants, although little is known about whether the substantive and psychometric integrity of the questionnaires are maintained when they are administered after the subject has completed other instruments. The studies presented here consider these issues in relation to the assessment of self-esteem and depression. In the first study, college students responded to a self-esteem inventory (a) by itself (control group), (b) after one prior questionnaire, (c) after three prior questionnaires, or (d) after five prior questionnaires. Results indicated that filling out one or more questionnaires before an assessment of self-esteem resulted in reports of lower self-esteem relative to the control condition. Additional analyses revealed that filling out three or five prior questionnaires created lower reliabilities of subscale scores and lower estimates of concurrent validity between self-esteem and depression. When the effect of prior questionnaires on the General Self-Esteem subscale was examined, the aforementioned results were replicated, and the prior questionnaire treatment created heterogeneous variances across the experimental groups. The second study was designed as a replication of the first study, using an assessment of depression as the target questionnaire. These results revealed that reports of depressive symptomatology increased as the number of prior questionnaires increased. Again, the prior questionnaire treatment created heterogeneity of variance between the groups, but did not adversely affect its internal consistency.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Joint reading between black Head Start children and their mothers.

This study examined the behaviors of black Head Start children and their mothers around a series of experimental joint reading contexts in their homes. There were 2 specific objectives: (1) to examine the effects of text genre (narrative and expository) and text format (familiar and traditional) on mothers' teaching strategies while interacting with their children around reading tasks, and (2) to examine the effectiveness of mothers' teaching strategies in eliciting children's participation in the joint reading tasks. 13 mother-child dyads were videotaped in their homes while interacting around a series of texts in each genre and format. Results indicated that genre, not format, affected mothers' teaching strategies. Further, mothers adjusted their level of teaching to children's level of task competence. Results are discussed in terms of Vygotsky's notion of the zone of proximal development.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1989

Role relations between children who are mentally retarded and their older siblings: observations in three in-home contexts.

Older nonhandicapped siblings and same-sex younger mentally retarded siblings (n = 16 sibling pairs) were observed in their homes during toy play, snack, and television-viewing, as were an equal number of comparison sibling pairs, matched for age, gender, and family characteristics. Role relationships between mentally retarded children and older siblings were asymmetrical, with older siblings assuming frequent teacher, manager, and helper roles. Older sisters, in particular, participated in frequent teaching. Amount of interaction between siblings was directly related to the contexts in which they were observed. Nonhandicapped siblings engaged each other more as playmates. Interactional correlates of language and adaptive competencies of the mentally retarded children are presented, as are correlations between the age of the siblings and the roles they assume with each other.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Marital quality, depression, and inconsistent parenting: relationship with observed mother-child conflict.

In a study of 47 intact families with two same-sex children, associations among parental depression, marital satisfaction, family conflict, and inconsistent child rearing practices were examined, both between parents and within individual parents. Results are discussed in terms of gender-related differences in family process. The need for further research on father-child interactions is highlighted.

Child↗
PubMed1988

Child temperament and parental perceptions of individual child adjustment: an intrafamilial analysis.

The association between child temperament and mothers' and fathers' perceptions of child adjustment was investigated in a study of 70 married couples, each of whom had two children of the same gender--36 brother pairs and 34 sets of sisters. The parents' perceptions of their children's levels of activity, persistence, and emotional intensity were found to be related to their perceptions of child adjustment. Implications of the findings are discussed and directions for further research indicated.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Childcare responsibilities, peer relations, and sibling conflict: older siblings of mentally retarded children.

Household and childcare responsibilities, peer contacts, and out-of-home activities of older same-sex siblings of mentally retarded children as compared to a group of matched nonhandicapped children were examined. Older siblings of retarded children, particularly older sisters, assumed multiple caretaking responsibilities. For these siblings, increased childcare responsibilities were associated with sibling conflict and decreased opportunities for peer contacts and out-of-home activities. As a group, however, siblings of retarded children did not differ from their agemates in frequency of contact with friends or participation in out-of-home activities. Retarded younger siblings had less contact with friends than did their nonhandicapped agemates. Within-group differences appeared to be more important in understanding sibling risk status than whether the child had a younger retarded sibling.

Child↗
PubMed1987

Self-perceived and independently observed competence of young adolescents as a function of parental marital conflict and recent divorce.

The self-perceived and independently observed cognitive and social competence of young adolescents as a function of parental conflict and recent divorce was investigated. Subjects were 40 young adolescents between the ages of 11 years 1 month and 15 years 1 month. A 2 X 2 factorial design was used, with the independent variables being parental marital status (married vs. recently divorced) and parental conflict (high vs. low). Dependent variables included the following measures of adolescent competence: adolescent-completed measures of self-perceived competence, teacher-completed measures, behavioral observations, and school grades. The results indicated that the level of parental conflict, rather than parental marital status, appears to be the critical variable associated with adolescents' independently observed levels of cognitive and social competence. In regard to adolescents' self-perceived levels of cognitive and social competence, parental marital status was found to be the critical variable. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Achievement↗
PubMed1987

Family system and individual child correlates of sibling behavior.

In this study of the connections between marital adjustment and sibling behavior, the best predictor of younger siblings' prosocial behavior was found to be low interparental conflict. Older siblings' prosocial behavior was most associated with the mothers' marital adjustment. Younger siblings' agonistic behavior was related to marital adjustment and to the older children's activity level.

Child↗
PubMed1987

Mentally retarded children and their older same-sex siblings: naturalistic in-home observations.

In-home interactions of mentally retarded children and their older nonhandicapped siblings were observed, as were interactions between target children and their mothers and fathers. Thirty-two same-sex sibling pairs participated; 16 with a mentally retarded child. Comparison siblings were matched on age, sex, race, parent marital status, education, and family income. High rates of interaction occurred between siblings. Older siblings accommodated the presence of a retarded child through their selection of activities. Interactions between retarded children and siblings were characterized by accentuated role asymmetries and less joint object play; no differences in affect were found. Gender differences in roles occurred as did relationships between competency of the retarded child and sibling interaction. Indirect effects on the parent-child relationship were also detected.

Child↗
PubMed1986

Home predictors of young adolescents' school behavior and academic performance.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation between home variables and young adolescents' school behavior/performance. 46 mother-father-adolescent triads (ages 11.5 years to 14.9 years) served as participants. Home factors included the adolescents' relation with each parent as well as a measure of each parent's personal adjustment and perception of conflict in the marriage. School measures consisted of grades and a teacher-completed assessment of internalizing and externalizing problems demonstrated by the adolescent. The results indicated that externalizing problems were related to the mother's depression level, the adolescent's relationship with the mother, and the adolescent's relationship with the father. The first 2 variables (maternal depression and mother-adolescent relation) entered into a multiple regression equation with sex of adolescent and accounted for 35% of the variance in externalizing problems. The relationship with the father was related to school grades and, in a multiple regression, combined with birth order of the adolescent to account for 15% of the variance. The results were discussed in terms of the importance of considering not only the mother-child relationship when examining cross-setting influences in the school but also the mother's personal adjustment and the father's relationship with the child.

Achievement↗
PubMed1985

Parents' teaching strategies with their children: the effects of parental and child status variables.

The intent of the study was to examine the effects of parental (mother and father) and child (gender and communicative status) status variables on the teaching strategies used by parents in a paper-folding task. The linguistic and nonverbal strategies of 120 parent-child groupings were analyzed during paper-folding tasks. Parents' strategies were coded according cognitive demand and directiveness. Results indicated that strategies varied as a function of children's communicative status. Parents were less directive and more demanding of nonhandicapped children compared to handicapped children. Parents' strategies seemed to be determined by children's ability to sustain discourse. Results are discussed in terms of Vygotsky's notion of the zone of proximal development.

Child, Preschool↗