Child sociometric status and parent behaviors - An observational study

The relationship between parent-child interaction and child sociometric sta tus was examined. Third- and fourth-grade children rated as socially neglec ted, rejected, or average by both peer and teacher nomination were videotap ed working on a task with their parents. Parents of children identified as neglected engaged in fewer overall interactions with their children than pa rents of both rejected and average children. Mothers of neglected and rejec ted boys issued mole commands than mothers of average children. Fathers of neglected boys issued more negative statements than fathers of either rejec ted or average children. Moreover, mothers and fathers of neglected and rej ected children exhibited greater differences between one another in their u se of commands than parents of average children. Mothers and fathers of rej ected children exhibited greater differences between parents in their use o f questions than parents of neglected or average children. The implications of these findings are discussed.