McGillion, Michelle L., Pine, Julian M., Herbert, Jane S. and Matthews, Danielle (2017) A randomised controlled trial to test the effect of promoting caregiver contingent talk on language development in infants from diverse socioeconomic status backgrounds. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58 (10). pp. 1122-1131. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12725

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Abstract

Background:
Early language skills are critical for later academic success. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) children tend to start school with limited language skills compared to advantaged peers. We test the hypothesis that this is due in part to differences in caregiver contingent talk during infancy (how often the caregiver talks about what is in the focus of the infant's attention).

Methods:
In a randomised controlled trial with high and low SES families, 142 11‐month olds and their caregivers were randomly allocated to either a contingent talk intervention or a dental health control. Families in the language intervention watched a video about contingent talk and were asked to practise it for 15 min a day for a month. Caregiver communication was assessed at baseline and after 1 month. Infant communication was assessed at baseline, 12, 15, 18 and 24 months.

Results:
At baseline, social gradients were observed in caregiver contingent talk to their 11‐month olds (but not in infant communication). At posttest, when infants were 12 months old, caregivers across the SES spectrum who had been allocated to the language intervention group engaged in significantly more contingent talk. Lower SES caregivers in this intervention group also reported that their children produced significantly more words at 15 and 18 months. Effects of the intervention did not persist at 24 months. Instead expressive vocabulary at this age was best predicted by baseline infant communication, baseline contingent talk and SES.

Conclusions:
A social gradient in children's communication emerges during the second year of life. A low‐intensity intervention demonstrated that it is possible to increase caregiver contingent talk and that this is effective in promoting vocabulary growth for lower SES infants in the short term. However, these effects are not long‐lasting, suggesting that follow‐up interventions may be necessary to yield benefits lasting to school entry.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology P Language and Literature > P Philology. Linguistics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Interpersonal communication in infants , Speech perception in infants, Language acquisition, Speech and social status, Children -- Language
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
ISSN:	0021-9630
Official Date:	October 2017
Dates:	Date Event October 2017 Published 21 April 2017 Available 28 February 2017 Accepted
Volume:	58
Number:	10
Page Range:	pp. 1122-1131
DOI:	10.1111/jcpp.12725
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Publisher Statement:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: McGillion, M. , Pine, J. M., Herbert, J. S. and Matthews, D. (2017), A randomised controlled trial to test the effect of promoting caregiver contingent talk on language development in infants from diverse socioeconomic status backgrounds. J Child Psychol Psychiatr, 58: 1122-1131. doi:10.1111/jcpp.12725, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12725. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:	Project/Grant ID RIOXX Funder Name Funder ID SG101641 British Academy http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000286 EDU40447 Nuffield Foundation http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000279 UNSPECIFIED University of Sheffield http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000858

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