The purpose of this study was to examine the relation of maternal interaction styles to thedevelopment of a sample of 56 toddlers (19 low risk, 37 high risk) seen at 12 and 24 months ofage. At 12 months, videotapes of mother–child interaction were coded for directiveness,sensitivity, and elaborativeness. At 12 and 24 months, cognitive and language measures werecollected. A directive maternal style was negatively correlated with sensitivity andelaborativeness, whereas sensitive and elaborative ratings were positively correlated, suggestinga facilitative style. Regression models significantly predicted receptive language and cognitivedevelopment at 24 months but not expressive language. Maternal directiveness at 12 months wasnegatively related to later receptive language skills, whereas elaborativeness at 12 months waspositively predictive of later cognitive development. Child status variables and maternalinteractional styles contributed about equally to the prediction of later cognitive and languageoutcomes.
