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Constraints to Child Language Development in Peri-Urban and Rural Areas: A Mixed-Methods Analysis from Southwestern China

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Title: Constraints to Child Language Development in Peri-Urban and Rural Areas: A Mixed-Methods Analysis from Southwestern China
Language: English
Authors: Xinwu Zhang (ORCID 0000-0002-4574-536X), Xiyuan Jia (ORCID 0000-0001-7618-3462), Zhaofeng Pang, Jingruo Guo, Tianli Feng, Andrew Rule, Scott Rozelle, Yue Ma
Source: Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools. 2025 56(1):58-82.
Availability: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: lshss@asha.org; Web site: http://lshss.pubs.asha.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 25
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Language Acquisition, Urban Areas, Rural Areas, Foreign Countries, Socioeconomic Influences, Toddlers, Low Income, Parent Influence, Knowledge Level, Child Development, Time, Family Environment, Language Planning
Geographic Terms: China
DOI: 10.1044/2024_LSHSS-24-00005
ISSN: 0161-1461
1558-9129
Abstract: Purpose: This mixed-methods study examined how differences in parental time, knowledge, and economic constraints, as well as community socioeconomic contexts, may contribute to differences in home language environment and child language ability outcomes between peri-urban and rural households in China. Method: We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods analysis using data from 158 children aged 18-24 months among peri-urban and rural households with low socioeconomic status (SES) in southwestern China. Audio recordings were collected from each household and analyzed using the Language ENvironment Analysis system. The Mandarin version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories was administered to each child's primary caregiver. We also conducted qualitative interviews with primary caregivers in 31 peri-urban and 32 rural households. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Results: The quantitative results reveal that children in peri-urban households heard less adult speech and had lower language ability than children in rural households. Directed content analysis of interviews found that peri-urban caregivers faced more severe time constraints and less favorable community socioeconomic contexts than rural primary caregivers. Taken together, these findings suggest that differences in time constraints and community socioeconomic contexts between the two populations are the most likely factors contributing to the inferior language environment and language ability among children in peri-urban households. Conclusion: The mixed-methods study indicated that parental time constraints and community socioeconomic contexts should be considered alongside SES for a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing parental investment in the home language environment in China.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1457953
Database: ERIC
FullText Links:
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IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Constraints to Child Language Development in Peri-Urban and Rural Areas: A Mixed-Methods Analysis from Southwestern China
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xinwu+Zhang%22">Xinwu Zhang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4574-536X">0000-0002-4574-536X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Xiyuan+Jia%22">Xiyuan Jia</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-3462">0000-0001-7618-3462</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zhaofeng+Pang%22">Zhaofeng Pang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jingruo+Guo%22">Jingruo Guo</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tianli+Feng%22">Tianli Feng</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andrew+Rule%22">Andrew Rule</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Scott+Rozelle%22">Scott Rozelle</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yue+Ma%22">Yue Ma</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Language%2C+Speech%2C+and+Hearing+Services+in+Schools%22"><i>Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools</i></searchLink>. 2025 56(1):58-82.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: lshss@asha.org; Web site: http://lshss.pubs.asha.org
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 25
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Acquisition%22">Language Acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Urban+Areas%22">Urban Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Influences%22">Socioeconomic Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Toddlers%22">Toddlers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Low+Income%22">Low Income</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Parent+Influence%22">Parent Influence</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Knowledge+Level%22">Knowledge Level</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Child+Development%22">Child Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time%22">Time</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Family+Environment%22">Family Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Planning%22">Language Planning</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1044/2024_LSHSS-24-00005
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0161-1461<br />1558-9129
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This mixed-methods study examined how differences in parental time, knowledge, and economic constraints, as well as community socioeconomic contexts, may contribute to differences in home language environment and child language ability outcomes between peri-urban and rural households in China. Method: We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods analysis using data from 158 children aged 18-24 months among peri-urban and rural households with low socioeconomic status (SES) in southwestern China. Audio recordings were collected from each household and analyzed using the Language ENvironment Analysis system. The Mandarin version of the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories was administered to each child's primary caregiver. We also conducted qualitative interviews with primary caregivers in 31 peri-urban and 32 rural households. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded. Results: The quantitative results reveal that children in peri-urban households heard less adult speech and had lower language ability than children in rural households. Directed content analysis of interviews found that peri-urban caregivers faced more severe time constraints and less favorable community socioeconomic contexts than rural primary caregivers. Taken together, these findings suggest that differences in time constraints and community socioeconomic contexts between the two populations are the most likely factors contributing to the inferior language environment and language ability among children in peri-urban households. Conclusion: The mixed-methods study indicated that parental time constraints and community socioeconomic contexts should be considered alongside SES for a comprehensive understanding of factors influencing parental investment in the home language environment in China.
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  Data: As Provided
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  Data: 2025
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  Data: EJ1457953
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1044/2024_LSHSS-24-00005
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 25
        StartPage: 58
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Language Acquisition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Urban Areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Toddlers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Low Income
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Parent Influence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Knowledge Level
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Child Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time
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      – SubjectFull: Family Environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Planning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Constraints to Child Language Development in Peri-Urban and Rural Areas: A Mixed-Methods Analysis from Southwestern China
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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