Longitudinal Predictors of Vocabulary Knowledge in Turkish Children: The Role of Maternal Warmth, Inductive Reasoning, and Children’s Inhibitory Control

Abstract

Research Findings: The present study investigated the social and cognitive precursors of vocabulary knowledge in 239 Turkish preschoolers both concurrently (Time 1 [T1] Mage = 53.29 months, SD = 10.19) and subsequently 1 year later (Time 2 [T2] Mage = 65.40 months, SD = 10.55). We examined the role of parenting behaviors by focusing on emotional and stimulation aspects of parenting (maternal warmth and inductive reasoning) and children’s inhibitory control skills in vocabulary comprehension. The results showed that T1 maternal warmth was linked with neither concurrent nor subsequent vocabulary knowledge, whereas T1 maternal inductive reasoning predicted vocabulary knowledge 1 year later. On the other hand, T1 inhibitory control predicted vocabulary knowledge at both time points, even when the child’s age and SES were controlled. T1 vocabulary knowledge mediated the links from T1 inhibitory control and SES to T2 vocabulary knowledge. The findings highlighted that parenting, children’s regulation skills, and broader contextual variables (SES) are all involved in the development of children’s vocabulary knowledge. Practice or Policy: The findings provided a nuanced understanding of the relation between aspects of parenting and vocabulary knowledge by showing that not maternal warmth but inductive reasoning is crucial for enhancing word comprehension of preschoolers.

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