Social Interaction:

Abstract

Recent studies indicate that mothers of developmentally delayed, noncompliant children (MDD), unlike mothers of nondelayed, noncompliant children (MNN), do not report feelings of depression on cognitive measures. However, these mothers often report that they socialize infrequently, feel isolated, tired, and distressed. The present study compared the frequency and valence of social activity of eight mothers with noncompliant, nondelayed children to that of eight mothers with noncompliant, developmentally delayed children. The Community Interaction Checklist was used to assess maternal social activity. The results indicated that the frequency of social activity of the MNN group was significantly higher than that of the MDD group. In addition, the MDD group experienced a lower, though not statisitically significant, level of positive interactions. These findings suggest that the self-reported depression expressed by mothers of developmentally delayed children may be related to low rates of social interactions.