Influence of Maternal Attitudes on Children with Reading Disabilities

Abstract

This study focused on attitudes expressed by mothers of 38 children with reading disabilities, as well as upon the intellective function of these children. Results indicated that the children manifested relatively superior verbal ability but, in spite of this fact, had failed to develop adequate reading skills. The youngsters also demonstrated inferior retentive ability which did not appear to be in keeping with their over-all intellectual ability. The results of the survey of maternal attitudes suggested that the mothers appeared to be authoritarian and controlling, with problems in the area of accepting their maternal role and a consequently higher degree of marital disharmony that is presumed to have a deleterious effect upon the child's development. It was concluded that maternal attitudes probably have a significant effect upon the motivation of the child to develop reading skills and that the lack of development of reading skills may reflect an attempt by the child to resist maternal pressures for achievement.