NUK - logo
E-viri
Celotno besedilo
  • The home literacy environme...
    Singh, Leher; Yeung, Wei‐Jun Jean; Cheng, Qiqi; Heng, Elisa Y‐T

    Developmental science, July 2023, Letnik: 26, Številka: 4
    Journal Article

    It is well attested that high socio‐economic status (SES) is associated with larger vocabulary size estimates in young children. This has led to growing interest in identifying associations and mechanisms that may contribute to this relationship. In this study, parent‐child reading behaviors were investigated in relation to vocabulary size in a large‐scale study of linguistically and socio‐economically diverse families. This study sampled 902 infants in Singapore, a multilingual society. Both single‐language (dominant and non‐dominant) and dual‐language vocabulary size estimates were obtained and related to family SES, demographic details, and home literacy activities. Results demonstrated that both single‐language (dominant and non‐dominant) and dual‐language infant vocabulary size estimates were predicted by parental education levels. Further analyses revealed that parent‐child book reading activities mediated the relationship between parental education and infant vocabulary size. Findings suggest that shared book reading may narrow effects of socio‐economic disparities on early language development. Research Highlights Socio‐economic status (SES) was examined in relation to infant vocabulary size in a linguistically and socio‐economically diverse setting. Mediating effects of the home literacy environment on infant vocabulary size were measured. Socio‐economic factors, notably parental education, had both direct and indirect effects on vocabulary size. The home literacy environment mediated effects of SES on infant vocabulary size. This study focuses on the relationship between parent‐child bookreading, socio‐economic status, and vocabulary development. Findings suggest that parent‐child bookreading may protect against against socio‐economic vulnerability in language development.