Abstract
Objectives
Young children living in low-income households experience disparities in language development compared to their advantaged peers, with large differences in language skill by kindergarten entry. In this study, we sought to determine whether there were disparities in early language trajectories within a low-income sample of children from 9 to 36 months as a function of maternal education. We hypothesized that children with more highly educated mothers would show accelerated language trajectories compared to children with less educated mothers.
Methods
Using observational data collected from a longitudinal birth-cohort sample of 192 low-income mother–infant dyads in Ohio from 2014 to 2018, children’s language skills were assessed at three time-points (ages 9–13 months, 20–24 months, and 32–36 months). Multi-level growth curve models were used to examine early language trajectories through three years of age as a function of maternal education.
Results
Multilevel growth curve models showed distinct language trajectories: young low-income children have significantly better language skills at 15 months if their mother had a college education compared to not, and this gap remained significant to almost 3 years of age.
Conclusions for Practice
Among young low-income children, disparities emerge in early language trajectories that differentiate children with less- versus more-educated mothers. Given that these disparities are apparent near the child’s first birthday, it is necessary that pediatric care providers monitor children’s early language trajectories and guide families to resources when lags are apparent.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank members of the Kids in Columbus Study team, including Jaclyn Dynia, Pam Salsbery, Kelly Purtell, and Jessica Logan. We also acknowledge the collaboration of the Franklin County (Ohio) Women, Infants, and Children programs. This study was funded by the Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy at The Ohio State University and in part by the National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health (F31NR017103: Randi Bates).
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Justice, L.M., Jiang, H., Bates, R. et al. Language Disparities Related to Maternal Education Emerge by Two Years in a Low-Income Sample. Matern Child Health J 24, 1419–1427 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02973-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-020-02973-9