EFFECTS OF SOCIAL-CONTEXT AND MOTHERS REQUESTING STRATEGIES ON DOWNS-SYNDROME CHILDRENS SOCIAL RESPONSIVENESS

Social context and maternal style of requesting and responsiveness wer e examined in teaching and social interactions in relation to 28 Down' s syndrome (DS; 30 to 69 months old) and 28 mental-age matched normal children's cooperation and social initiative. Compliance for DS childr en was similar to normal children for child-initiated exchanges but de creased during mother-initiated exchanges, particularly in less struct ured situations. The DS children initiated fewer exchanges but were co mparable on self-directed behavior. Differences in mothers' requests a nd children's social competence related to risk, language skills, and social situation. The DS but not normal children were more likely to i ncrease compliance with directive vs. suggestive requests, but only in the structured situation. Mothers' behaviors, social context, and exp ressive language skills were important in understanding the social com petence of DS children.