International Journal of Developmental Science - Volume 16, issue 1-2

Authors: Scheithauer, Herbert

Article Type: Editorial

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-220327

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 16, no. 1-2, pp. 1-1, 2022

Authors: Weiss, Maren | Schmucker, Martin | Lösel, Friedrich

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Most research on developmental prevention programs stems from Anglo-American countries. However, in German-speaking European countries, there is also a broad range of family-oriented programs to promote child development and prevent behavioral problems. This article presents a meta-analysis of n  = 79 studies on family-based prevention that had a comparison group and were performed in Germany, Austria, or Switzerland. Overall, the data contained 10,667 parents and showed a significant positive mean effect of the programs (d  = 0.31). The mean effect for parent related outcomes (d  = 0.40) was larger than for measures of child behavior (d  = 0.20). There was much heterogeneity across studies …and very few had follow-ups of more than one year. Moderator analyses revealed particular influences of methodological study characteristics, e.g. larger effects in smaller samples and less well-controlled studies. Most results of our meta-analysis are similar to what has been found in the English-speaking world. However, as in international practice, the evaluated programs seem to be not representative for everyday prevention reality where many programs are not evaluated at all. Our study confirms the need for more high-quality and long-term evaluation as well as cross-national comparisons and replicated moderator analyses. Show more

Keywords: Family-based prevention, parent training, outcome evaluation, meta-analysis, cross-cultural generalization

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-210320

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 16, no. 1-2, pp. 3-18, 2022

Authors: Eyuboglu, Murat | Eyuboglu, Damla | Karzan, Nazlı Ece | Yaylaci, Ferhat | Karadag, Engin | Arslantas, Didem

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study examined the new parent-report assessment’s reliability and validity, the Eyuboglu Sensory Reactivity Scale (ESRS), in children with ASD. The ESRS was designed to assess the frequency of sensory behaviors in children with ASD. A total of 167 (age 2–18, M  = 6.4±4.1 years, 79.6 % male) children and their families were included. Parents were asked to fill in the ESRS and the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC). In addition, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was administered by the clinician. The psychometric properties were examined through reliability and validity analyses. According to explorative factor analysis, the ESRS consists of a …15 five-point Likert-type that has acceptable internal consistency and good validity for children aged 2 through 18. Cronbach’s alpha of the scale was 0.85. The scale also showed good concurrent and convergent validity. The ESRS has the potential to measure unusual sensory reactions and can be used to follow up sensory interventions in children with ASD. Show more

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, sensory reactivity, sensory behaviors, scale development, reliability

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-210317

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 16, no. 1-2, pp. 19-26, 2022

Authors: Joyce, Hannah | Aguado-Orea, Javier

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The Assessment of Language in Adults using Self-reported Skills (ALASS) is an online tool aimed at providing a rapid indication of language-related skills at two levels: basic performance and social use. In Study 1, we have developed and validated a new tool with two objective measures: a lexical decision test and a grammaticality judgement test, completed online by 280 participants (204 women, 69 men, 7 undisclosed, age: M  = 24.4 years; SD = 11.1). Results show that ALASS is a good predictor of the outcomes for reaction times in the objective measures. In study 2, we have run further analyses with a subset …of 209 adults (157 women, 47 men, 5 undisclosed; age: M  = 20.9 years; SD = 5.8) to validate the social implications of ALASS with another online study, also showing a considerable explanatory power in this case, and strengthening the divergent nature of language when it is used with a social purpose against a more cognitive function (i.e. literacy and language production and comprehension). Considering its explanatory power for lexical performance, we believe that the scale has a potential applicability in the assessment of adults that could have missed a diagnosis of Developmental Language Disorder during childhood. Show more

Keywords: Language assessment, adults, developmental language disorder, lexical decision task

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-210316

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 16, no. 1-2, pp. 27-42, 2022

Authors: Nicoladis, Elena | Gourlay, Haylee

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Adults, preschool children, and infants gesture more with their right hand than with their left hand. Since gestures and speech are related in production, it is possible that this right-hand preference reflects left-hemisphere lateralization for gestures and speech. The primary purpose of the present study was to test if children between the ages of 6 and 10 years show a right-hand preference in referential gestures while telling a story. We also tested four predictors of children’s degree of right-hand preference: 1) bilingualism, 2) language proficiency, 3) age, and 4) sex. Previous studies have shown that these variables are related to …the degree of speech lateralization. Twenty-five English monolingual (17 girls; Mage  = 8.0, SDage  = 1.4), 21 French monolingual (12 girls; Mage  = 7.3, SDage  = 1.4,) and 25 French-English bilingual (11 girls; Mage  = 8.5, SDage  = 1.4) children watched a cartoon and told the story back. The bilinguals did this once in each language. The referential gestures were coded for handedness. Most of the participants showed a right-hand preference for gesturing. In English, none of the predictor variables was clearly related to right-hand preference. In French, the monolinguals showed a stronger right-hand preference than the bilinguals. These inconsistent findings across languages raise doubts as to whether the right-hand preference is linked to lateralization for speech. Show more

Keywords: Hand preference, lateralization, co-speech gestures, referential gestures

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-199467

Citation: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 16, no. 1-2, pp. 43-52, 2022