Leiden University Student Repository

Hofman, Claudia (2024)

Selectief mutisme en sociaal taalgebruik

Master thesis | Education and Child Studies (MSc)

In the present study the question is addressed whether child’s social language use is associated with child’s temperament and social anxiety of parents of children with selective mutism, in comparison with a control group (CG). 74 Participants are included. The SM-group (N=30) contains 8 boys and 22 girls and the CG (N=44) exists of 21 boys and 23 girls aged 4 to 8 years. The parents completed questionnaires about their children’s development, focusing on the frequency of non-speaking behavior (Selective Mutism Questionnaire), communication skills (Children’s Communication Checklist) and temperament (Children’s Behavior Questionnaire). They also completed a self-report about their own experiences of social anxiety (Social Phobia Anxiety Inventory). Compared to the CG, the SM-group has significantly more problems with social language use (t(71)= 2.95; p= .004), doesn’t have a more difficult temperament (t(70)= 1.93; p=.057), mothers have significantly more social anxiety (t(63)= 2.70...Show moreIn the present study the question is addressed whether child’s social language use is associated with child’s temperament and social anxiety of parents of children with selective mutism, in comparison with a control group (CG). 74 Participants are included. The SM-group (N=30) contains 8 boys and 22 girls and the CG (N=44) exists of 21 boys and 23 girls aged 4 to 8 years. The parents completed questionnaires about their children’s development, focusing on the frequency of non-speaking behavior (Selective Mutism Questionnaire), communication skills (Children’s Communication Checklist) and temperament (Children’s Behavior Questionnaire). They also completed a self-report about their own experiences of social anxiety (Social Phobia Anxiety Inventory). Compared to the CG, the SM-group has significantly more problems with social language use (t(71)= 2.95; p= .004), doesn’t have a more difficult temperament (t(70)= 1.93; p=.057), mothers have significantly more social anxiety (t(63)= 2.70; p= .009), fathers don’t (t(53)= 0.04; p= .97). There is a significant positive moderate association between childrens social language use and mothers’ social anxiety (r(65)= .40, p < .001), also between the childrens social language use and their temperament (r(71)= .32, p= .006). There is no association between social language use and fathers’ social anxiety (r(55)= .01, p= .972). Mothers' social anxiety predicts 17% of the variance in child’s social language use (R2= .17, F(1,62)= 12.31, p< .001). A higher degree of mothers’ social anxiety predicts more problems in children's social language use. Mothers’ social anxiety and childrens temperament together are also significant and predict 21% of the variance in child’s social language use (R2= .21, F(2,61)= 7.90, p < .001). Temperament explained only 4% variance in social language use, it is not a significant predictor. The results stimulate further research into the importance of involving mothers with social anxiety in the treatment of their child with SM.Show less

Selectief mutisme

Author

Hofman, Claudia

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Orthopedagogiek

Supervisors

Swaab, J.T.

ECTS Credits

20

Language

nl