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Children with PIMD in interaction with peers with PIMD or siblings
S Nijs1, C Vlaskamp2, B Maes1
1University of Leuven, Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Leuven, Belgium.
Insights
Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) exhibit more peer-directed behaviors when interacting with siblings than with other PIMD peers. Siblings using combined verbal and nonverbal cues enhance these interactions.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Disability Studies
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) often struggle with peer-directed behaviors.
- Interactions with typically developing peers, particularly siblings, are more frequent for individuals with PIMD.
- Understanding social interaction patterns is crucial for supporting individuals with PIMD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare peer-directed behaviors in children with PIMD during interactions with siblings versus peers with PIMD.
- To examine the attention-directing strategies used by siblings.
- To investigate the impact of sibling attention-directing strategies on peer-directed behaviors in children with PIMD.
Main Methods:
- Thirteen children with PIMD and their typically developing siblings participated.
- Observations were conducted during interactions with a sibling and a peer with PIMD.
- Video recordings were analyzed using coding schemes for peer-directed and attention-directing behaviors.
Main Results:
- Children with PIMD displayed significantly more peer-directed behaviors with siblings (30.76%) than with PIMD peers (13.73%).
- Siblings used attention-directing behaviors 30% of the time, primarily nonverbal cues.
- A combination of verbal and nonverbal attention-directing behaviors from siblings elicited more peer-directed behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Siblings may provide a more motivating interaction environment for individuals with PIMD.
- Combined verbal and nonverbal attention-directing strategies by siblings are effective in engaging individuals with PIMD.
- Findings suggest siblings play a vital role in facilitating social interactions for those with PIMD.
Background:
The complex disabilities of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) impede their presentation of peer directed behaviours. Interactions with typically developing peers have been observed to be more frequent than those with peers with PIMD. The typically developing peers with whom people with PIMD have frequent contact are their siblings. In this study, the amount of peer directed behaviours was compared between an interaction with a sibling and an interaction with a peer with PIMD. In addition, the attention directing strategies of the siblings, and how these affect the presentation of peer directed behaviours, were examined.
Method:
Thirteen children and young people with PIMD, who had a typically developing sibling, were identified. For each of these thirteen children, a peer with PIMD and a sibling were selected. The child with PIMD was observed together with a peer with PIMD and together with a sibling. In both conditions, video observations were conducted. A coding scheme for the peer directed behaviours of the children and young people with PIMD and a coding scheme for the attention directing behaviours of the siblings were used. Descriptive, comparative and sequential analyses were conducted.
Results:
Significantly, more peer directed behaviours of the children with PIMD were observed in the condition with the sibling (30.76%) compared with that of the condition with the peer with PIMD (13.73%). The siblings presented attention directing behaviours in 30% of the time; the most frequently used was nonverbal behaviour. When the siblings presented a combination of verbal and nonverbal attention directing behaviours, they elicited multiple peer directed behaviours in the children and young people with PIMD.
Conclusions:
Persons with PIMD interact more with their siblings compared with their peers with PIMD. Interacting with siblings may probably be more motivating and encouraging. Presenting a combination of verbal and nonverbal behaviours attracts more attention of the persons with PIMD.
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