Imitation in Hispanic/Latine Children with Developmental Delay and Their Caregivers Following a Remote Parenting...

We examined the longitudinal effects of internet-delivered PCIT (iPCIT) on caregiver and child imitation in young Hispanic/Latine children with developmental delay (DD). We also examined the moderating roles of acculturation and enculturation on such treatment effects.

Three-year-old, Hispanic/Latine children aging out of early intervention services for developmental delay (n = 98) and their primary caregivers were randomized to receive iPCIT or referrals as usual (RAU) in the community. Caregiver and child imitation were observationally coded during a 5-min child-directed play situation, which occurred during home-based evaluations at four timepoints - i.e. Baseline, Post, 6-month follow-up, and 12-month follow-up.

Treatment effects were significantly moderated by caregiver acculturation. Specifically, iPCIT was associated with greater caregiver and child imitation among families reporting higher, but not lower, levels of caregiver acculturation. However, caregiver enculturation did not moderate the effects of iPCIT on either caregiver or child imitation.

Findings suggest parenting intervention effects on levels of imitation were particularly strong for Hispanic/Latine caregivers reporting higher levels of acculturation. This highlights the promotive role acculturative identity can play in boosting parenting intervention effects, particularly those of caregiver and child imitation. Findings also underscore the importance of assessing cultural factors to better inform personalized care and skill acquisition among Hispanic/Latine samples. Future research is needed to identify mechanisms that help explain precisely how cultural identity factors, such as acculturation and enculturation, can boost treatment-related imitation gains for Hispanic/Latine children with DD and their families.