HOME-ENVIRONMENT AND ADAPTIVE SOCIAL-BEHAVIOR AMONG PREMATURE, LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT CHILDREN - ALTERNATIVE MODELS OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

Used data from 465 premature, low birth weight children representing t hree major sociocultural groups (Caucasian, African American, Hispanic ) to examine the relation between children's home environments and the ir adaptive social behavior. Results showed low to moderate associatio ns between scores on the HOME Inventory at 1 and 3 years and scores on two measures of adaptive social behavior at 30 to 36 months, the Adap tive Social Behavior Inventory, and observations of mother-child inter action in a structured laboratory situation. Results indicated that re sponsive, nurturant care at both 1 and 3 years are related to child ad aptive social behavior, as are cognitively stimulating experiences and materials. However, canonical correlational analysis indicated that o nly Acceptance and Variety of Experience, measured at age 3, and Varie ty of Experience measured at age 1 accounted for independent amounts o f variance in adaptive social behavior as perceived by mothers. Also, only sociocultural group status and Learning Materials at 36 months co ntributed to the prediction of persistence and enthusiasm as observed in the laboratory setting.