Joint Attention and Toddler Characteristics: Race, Sex and Socioeconomic Status

In studies of joint attention and sequences of interaction that foster joint attention, limited focus has been placed on toddler characteristics such as race, sex and socioeconomic status (SES). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between joint attention and toddler's race, sex and SES. Eighty-four dyads of diverse race, sex and SES were videotaped playing, and joint attention and initiating matemal bid sequences were coded. Joint attention related to a “persisting” mother, whether or not the toddler accepted the initial maternal bid. No race differences were found; however, females engaged in more frequent bouts of joint attention and had more frequent nonpersistent maternal responses after the bid was accepted. Finally, SES was generally unrelated to joint attention. The manner in which bids for joint attention transpired and the amount of joint attention that occurred was largely independent of the dyad's SES as measured here.