Date of Defense
4-22-2014
Date of Graduation
4-2014
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Amy Damashek
Second Advisor
Jennifer Kuhn
Third Advisor
Natalie Truba
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to examine (1) whether mothers’ attitudes about supervision differ based on (a) the number of children in the home and (b) the birth order of the child; (2) whether mothers’ reported supervision levels differ based on: (a) the number of children in the home and (b) the birth order of the child; (3) whether children in families with more than one child sustain more injuries than children in families with fewer children. I expected to find that mothers had more lax attitudes for their younger children versus old, and were more lax for homes with more children. I expected to find lower levels of supervision for homes with more children and for younger children versus old. I also expected that homes with more children to have children that were injured more frequently.
Methods: Mothers of children ages 1-5 (n = 36) were interviewed approximately once a week over an 8 week period about their children’s unintentional injuries and their supervision practices.
Results: Our study found that the number of children in the home was negatively related to the amount of auditory supervision provided by the mother. We also found that mothers’ beliefs about the need for supervision was related to children’s injury frequency such that more injuries was associated with mothers reporting decreased need for supervision of young children.
Recommended Citation
Schramm, Alyssa, "The Effects of Child Birth Order and Number of Children on Mother’s Supervision Beliefs and Practices" (2014). Honors Theses. 2465.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/2465
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access
Powerpoint Presentation
Included in
Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Child Psychology Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons