Early Markers of Language and Attention: Mutual Contributions and the Impact of Parent–Infant Interactions
Abstract
This study of was conducted to explore the contribution of attentional skills to early language, and the influence of early language markers on the development of attention, simultaneously examining the impact of parent-child interaction factors (reciprocity/synchrony and sensitivity/responsivity), including their potential moderator effects. All children were between 6 months and 12 months of age, and about equally distributed between genders (33 males, 32 females), with caregivers' ages ranging from 28 years to 45 years (N = 65). Maternal perceptions of infant attentional skills (duration of orienting, or persistence of attention, and perceptual sensitivity-the infant's ability to selectively attend to subtle stimuli) and an early marker of language (vocal reactivity: use of vocalizations across a variety of activities), along with observations of parent-child interactions, provided the basis for the present evaluation. Infant duration of orienting emerged as the primary predictor of vocal reactivity, with the contribution of perceptual sensitivity approaching significance. Infant vocal reactivity explained significant amounts of variance for duration of orienting and perceptual sensitivity. Parent-infant interaction factors contributed to the prediction of early attentional skills, with responsivity/sensitivity explaining a significant portion of perceptual sensitivity variance, and synchronicity/reciprocity emerging as a significant predictor of duration of orienting. Observed contribution of the vocal reactivity * responsivity/sensitivity interaction to predicting infant perceptual sensitivity provided preliminary support for the proposed moderation.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Children with early semantic language problems are at risk for attention problems and worse school performance.
“children with initial semantic language problems are at risk for developing attention problems and have worse school performance (Gartstein et al., 2008; Young et al., 2002).”
From Semantic Language as a Mechanism Explaining the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Reading and Mathematics Underachievement (2012) · cites this paper as Gartstein et al., 2008
General language ability is theorized to shape attention, which is critical for academic performance.
“developmental theory suggests that general language ability plays a role in shaping attention which is then critical for academic performance (Gartstein, Crawford, & Robertson, 2008).”
From Semantic Language as a Mechanism Explaining the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Reading and Mathematics Underachievement (2012) · cites this paper as Gartstein, Crawford, & Robertson, 2008
Language and verbal working memory have bidirectional effects on attention development, with later effects on academic achievement.
“which is in line with developmental theory suggesting that language and verbal WM exert bidirectional influences on the development of attention with later-emerging effects on academic achievement (Gartstein et al., 2008).”
From Semantic Language as a Mechanism Explaining the Association between ADHD Symptoms and Reading and Mathematics Underachievement (2012) · cites this paper as Gartstein et al., 2008
Cites
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-3514.51.6.1173 · Cited by 91,542 · see citing works
Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173 · Cited by 91,532 · see citing works
Multiple regression: testing and interpreting interactions
(1992) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.29-3352 · Cited by 36,644 · see citing works
Vygotsky, L. S. (1964) · Bulletin of the Orton Society · doi:10.1007/bf02928399 · Cited by 20,704 · see citing works
Holmbeck, G. N. (1997) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037//0022-006x.65.4.599 · Cited by 2,956 · see citing works
Holmbeck, G. (1997) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-006x.65.4.599 · Cited by 2,382 · see citing works
Social, emotional, and personality development
Eisenberg, N., & Damon, W. (1998) · Wiley eBooks · Cited by 1,903 · see citing works
Joint attention and early language
Tomasello, M., & Farrar, M. J. (1986) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1130423 · Cited by 1,822 · see citing works
Emotions and emotional communication in infants.
Tronick, E. Z. (1989) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037//0003-066x.44.2.112 · Cited by 1,819 · see citing works
Holmbeck, G. N. (2002) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/27.1.87 · Cited by 1,819 · see citing works
Advances in developmental psychology
Lamb, M. E., Brown, A. L., & Rogoff, B. (1981) · Lawrence Erlbaum Associates eBooks · Cited by 1,687 · see citing works
The effect of the infant on its caregiver
Lewis, M., & Rosenblum, L. A. (1974) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,428 · see citing works
Joint Attention and Early Language
Tomasello, M., & Farrar, M. J. (1986) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1986.tb00470.x · Cited by 1,405 · see citing works
Emotions and emotional communication in infants.
Tronick, E. Z. (1989) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.44.2.112 · Cited by 1,359 · see citing works
Studying infant temperament via the Revised Infant Behavior Questionnaire
Gartstein, M. A., & Rothbart, M. K. (2003) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(02)00169-8 · Cited by 1,345 · see citing works
Self-citationMaternal Responsiveness and Children's Achievement of Language Milestones
Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S., Bornstein, M. H., & Baumwell, L. (2001) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00313 · Cited by 1,190 · see citing works
Development of individual differences in temperament
Rothbart, M. K., & Derryberry, D. (1981) · Cited by 1,153 · see citing works
The Role of Speech in the Regulation of Normal and Abnormal Behavior
Luria, A. R. (1961) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/c2013-0-05275-9 · Cited by 972 · see citing works
Attention in Early Development
Ruff, H. A., & Rothbart, M. K. (2001) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195136326.001.0001 · Cited by 947 · see citing works
The Role of Speech in the Regulation of Normal and Abnormal Behaviour
(1962) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.1962.tb89009.x · Cited by 939 · see citing works
Abidin, R. R. (1995) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 926 · see citing works
Putnam, S. P., Gartstein, M. A., & Rothbart, M. K. (2006) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2006.01.004 · Cited by 911 · see citing works
Self-citationTemperament and social behavior in childhood
Rothbart, M. K., Ahadi, S. A., & Hershey, K. L. (1994) · Merrill-palmer Quarterly · Cited by 908 · see citing works
Moore, C. L., Dunham, P. J., & Dunham, P. (2014) · Psychology Press eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781315806617 · Cited by 867 · see citing works
The origins of reciprocity : The early mother-infant interaction
Brazelton, T. B., Koslowski, B., & Main, M. (1974) · Cited by 682 · see citing works
Smith, M. R. (1985) · Language · doi:10.2307/414500 · Cited by 656 · see citing works
van den Boom, D. C. (1994) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1994.tb00829.x · Cited by 613 · see citing works
(1995) · Cited by 590 · see citing works
The Development of Effortful Control.
Rothbart, M. K., & Rueda, M. R. (2006) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/11108-009 · Cited by 441 · see citing works
Posner, M. I., & Rothbart, M. K. (2007) · American Psychological Association eBooks · doi:10.1037/11519-000 · Cited by 441 · see citing works
Bernieri, F. J., Reznick, J. S., & Rosenthal, R. (1988) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.2.243 · Cited by 436 · see citing works
Webster-Stratton, C. H., & Hammond, M. A. (1988) · Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology · doi:10.1007/bf00913802 · Cited by 410 · see citing works
van den Boom, D. C. (1994) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131511 · Cited by 341 · see citing works
A Meta-Analysis of Infant Habituation and Recognition Memory Performance as Predictors of Later IQ
McCall, R. B., & Carriger, M. S. (1993) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1993.tb02895.x · Cited by 337 · see citing works
Isabella, R. A., Belsky, J., & von Eye, A. (1989) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.25.1.12 · Cited by 332 · see citing works
Maternal verbal sensitivity and child language comprehension
Baumwell, L., Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S., & Bornstein, M. H. (1997) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(97)90026-6 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
A Meta-Analysis of Infant Habituation and Recognition Memory Performance as Predictors of Later IQ
McCall, R. B., & Carriger, M. S. (1993) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131437 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
Attention-Getting and Attention-Holding Processes of Infant Visual Preferences
Cohen, L. B. (1972) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1127638 · Cited by 244 · see citing works
ATTENTION-GETTING AND ATTENTION-HOLDING PROCESSES OF INFANT VISUAL PREFERENCES
Cohen, L. B. (1972) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1972.tb02041.x · Cited by 243 · see citing works
Robison, L. M., Sclar, D. A., Skaer, T. L., & Galin, R. S. (1999) · Clinical Pediatrics · doi:10.1177/000992289903800402 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Colombo, J. A., Mitchell, D., Coldren, J. T., & Freeseman, L. J. (1991) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01603.x · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Maternal responsiveness and infant mental abilities: Specific predictive relations
Bornstein, M. H., & Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S. (1997) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(97)90001-1 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S., & Bornstein, M. H. (1989) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1989.tb02754.x · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Causal Analysis: Theory and Application
Peyrot, M. F. (1996) · Journal of Pediatric Psychology · doi:10.1093/jpepsy/21.1.3 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Tamis‐LeMonda, C. S., & Bornstein, M. H. (1989) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1130739 · Cited by 175 · see citing works
Olson, S. L., Bates, J. E., & Bayles, K. A. (1984) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.20.1.166 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
Temporal Contingency as an Independent Component of Parenting Behavior
Keller, H., Lohaus, A., Völker, S., Cappenberg, M., & Chasiotis, A. (1999) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00034 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Colombo, J. A., Mitchell, D., Coldren, J. T., & Freeseman, L. J. (1991) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1130804 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Laucht, M., Esser, G., & Schmidt, M. H. (2001) · Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology · doi:10.1017/s0012162201000561 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Gaze following, temperament, and language development in 6-month-olds: A replication and extension
Morales, M., Mundy, P., Delgado, C. F., Yale, M. E., Neal, R., & Schwartz, H. K. (2000) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(01)00038-8 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Joint-attentional states and lexical acquisition at 18 months.
Dunham, P. J., Dunham, F. Y., & Curwin, A. (1993) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.29.5.827 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Babbling and early speech: continuity and individual differences
LOCKE, J. L. (1989) · First Language · doi:10.1177/014272378900900606 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Left Hemisphere Cerebral Specialization for Babies While Babbling
Holowka, S., & Petitto, L. A. (2002) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1074941 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Colombo, J. A., Mitchell, D. W., & Horowitz, F. D. (1988) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1988.tb01489.x · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Joint-attentional states and lexical acquisition at 18 months.
Dunham, P. J., Dunham, F. Y., & Curwin, A. (1993) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037//0012-1649.29.5.827 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Evaluation of a temperament-focused, parent-training program
Sheeber, L., & Johnson, J. H. (1994) · Journal of Clinical Child Psychology · doi:10.1207/s15374424jccp2303_3 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Freeseman, L. J., Colombo, J. A., & Coldren, J. T. (1993) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1993.tb04195.x · Cited by 98 · see citing works
McCathren, R. B., Yoder, P. J., & Warren, S. F. (1999) · Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research · doi:10.1044/jslhr.4204.915 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Early intentional communication as a predictor of language development in young toddlers
Laakso, M., Poikkeus, A., Katajamäki, J., & Lyytinen, P. (1999) · First Language · doi:10.1177/014272379901905604 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
Lexical development during middle infancy: A mutually driven infant-caregiver process.
Dunham, P. J., & Dunham, F. Y. (1992) · Developmental Psychology · doi:10.1037/0012-1649.28.3.414 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Gartstein, M. A., Knyazev, G. G., & Slobodskaya, H. R. (2004) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/j.infbeh.2004.09.003 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Self-citationGartstein, M. A., Slobodskaya, H. R., & Kinsht, I. A. (2003) · International Journal of Behavioral Development · doi:10.1080/01650250244000344 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
Self-citationFreeseman, L. J., Colombo, J. A., & Coldren, J. T. (1993) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131334 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Mother-infant interaction and cognitive development in twelve-week-old infants
Lewis, M., & Coates, D. L. (1980) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(80)80014-2 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Child Behavior Problems and Maternal Symptoms of Depression: A Mediational Model
Gartstein, M. A., & Sheeber, L. (2004) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2004.tb00011.x · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Self-citationChild temperament, maternal adjustment, and changes in family life style.
Sheeber, L., & Johnson, J. H. (1992) · American Journal of Orthopsychiatry · doi:10.1037/h0079329 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Frick, J. E., & Colombo, J. A. (1996) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1996.tb01728.x · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Language Risk Factor in Emotionally Disturbed Children Within a School and Day Treatment Program
Trautman, R. C., Giddan, J. J., & Jurs, S. G. (1990) · Communication Disorders Quarterly · doi:10.1177/152574019001300201 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Gandour, M. J. (1989) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8624.1989.tb03540.x · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Four-month-olds' recognition of complementary-contour forms
Colombo, J. A., Frick, J. E., Ryther, J. S., et al. (1996) · Infant Behavior and Development · doi:10.1016/s0163-6383(96)90049-1 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Hyperkinetic Children: A Neuropsychosocial Approach
Conners, C. K., & Wells, K. C. (1986) · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Frick, J. E., & Colombo, J. A. (1996) · Child Development · doi:10.2307/1131695 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Hyperkinetic Children: A Neuropsychosocial Approach
Richman, N. (1986) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/adc.61.11.1150-b · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Gremillion, M. L., & Martel, M. M. (2012) · Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10802-012-9650-7 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gartstein, M. A., Crawford, J., & Robertson, C. D.
- Affiliations
- Washington State University (US)
- Palo Alto University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Gartstein, Maria A.
- Venue
- Child Psychiatry and Human Development
- Published
- 2007-06-15
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 9-26
- ISSN
- 0009-398X (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3327
- OpenAlex
- W2087425801
- Cited by
- 72
- References
- 73
- Citations by year
- 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Child Psychiatry & Human Development (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- infant attention, early childhood language development, parent-infant interaction, perceptual sensitivity, maternal perceptions, infants
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Age Factors, Attention, Child, Child Language, Communication, Female, Humans, Infant, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Parent-Child Relations, Surveys and Questionnaires, Verbal Behavior
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
