Selective mutism (SM) is a relatively rare childhood disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific settings, such as school, despite speaking normally in other settings, such...Show moreSelective mutism (SM) is a relatively rare childhood disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific settings, such as school, despite speaking normally in other settings, such as at home. Little is known about the etiology of SM, although some studies show evidence of social anxiety or problems in communication skills as underlying mechanisms. This study investigated whether some children with SM in the Netherlands have more social anxiety and more problems in communication skills than peers. Moreover, it examined which of these factors has the strongest association with the non-speaking behaviour characteristic of SM. Parents of 28 children with SM (Nboys=6; Ngirls=22) and 44 children without SM (Nboys=19, Ngirls=23) aged 4-9 years completed questionnaires on their child's speaking behaviour (Selective Mutism Questionnaire), communication skills (Children's Communication Checklist) and social anxiety (Social Worries Anxiety Index for Young children). Results show that children with SM have significantly more social anxiety and more problems in communication skills than peers. Furthermore, more problems in non-speaking behaviour are significantly associated with more social anxiety and more problems in communication skills. Non-speaking behaviour has a stronger correlation with social anxiety than with communication skills. A hierarchical regression shows that social anxiety is a strong significant predictor (80%) of nonspeaking behaviour. Communication skills have minimal additional impact (0.5%) on the variance of non-speaking behaviour. Finally, communication skills partly (11%) explain why some children with social anxiety do not speak and other children do. A limitation of this study is the small sample size, which did not allow to control for ethnicity. Possibly this affects the outcomes of communication skills. Nevertheless, we feel confident that SM is mainly related to social anxiety. Communication skills have a small influence on the outcome of SM. Based on this we recommend that treatment of SM should mainly focus on social anxiety and in addition we should be alert for problems in communication skills.Show less
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...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
