Dissertation
Influence of physical therapy on the motor and interactive behaviors of mothers and their children with motor delay during play
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Hahnemann University
May 1993
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00006461
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of physical therapy on motor and interactive behaviors of mothers and their children with motor delay during play. The subjects were 38 mothers and their children, ages 6 to 34 months, enrolled in early intervention. The subjects were assigned to an experimental or control group. The experimental group received five home-based sessions of physical therapy. Conventional physical therapy intervention strategies were incorporated into play activities. Mothers were given the opportunity to interact with their children during the activities. Mother-child interactions were measured by a modified version of the Response Class Matrix. Two-factor repeated measures analyses of variance were used to analyze group differences in mother and child interactive behaviors. Children in the experimental group demonstrated more frequent changes in position at post-assessment compared with children in the control group (p =.06). The mothers in the experimental group demonstrated an increase in frequency of holding their children in an appropriate manner (p <.05). The mothers in the experimental group were more directive at post-assessment compared with the mothers in the control group (p <.01), but they were not less positive or more negative. The directive style of the mothers' in the experimental group appeared to be a consequence of their investment in the therapy program and desire for their children to perform optimally. The children and mothers in the control group demonstrated higher interactive summary scores when the children had higher levels of motor development. For the entire sample, child's mental age and mother's interactive ability accounted for 49% of the variance associated with child's interactive ability. Child's interactive ability, child's chronological age, and group membership accounted for 73% of the variance associated with mother's interactive ability. The mothers in the experimental group reported they were satisfied with the intervention program and that they learned to integrate gross motor activities into play. The integration of conventional physical therapy strategies within the context of interactive play was well received by the children and mothers and may promote the generalization and practice of motor skills during play without interfering with positive mother-child interactions.
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Details
- Title
- Influence of physical therapy on the motor and interactive behaviors of mothers and their children with motor delay during play
- Creators
- Lisa Ann Chiarello
- Contributors
- Robert J. Palisano (Advisor) - Drexel University, Hahnemann University (1982-1993)
- Awarding Institution
- Hahnemann University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Hahnemann University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xi, 220 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Hahnemann University (1982-1993); School of Health Sciences and Humanities (1988-1993); Physical Therapy/Therapist Assistant (1988-1993)
- Other Identifier
- 991021888910704721