The Relationship Between General Anxiety and Language Dysfluencies in Mothers with the FMR1 Premutation

School Name

Governor's School for Science & Mathematics

Grade Level

12th Grade

Presentation Topic

Psychology and Sociology

Presentation Type

Mentored

Mentor

Mentor: Jessica Klusek, University of South Carolina

Oral Presentation Award

1st Place

Abstract

The FMR1 premutation is an X-linked genetic mutation that causes an increase in CGG repeats on the FMR1 gene. This mutation affects one in every 151 females. The mutation can cause delays in cognitive ability and these delays can, in turn, affect the ability to communicate. It was hypothesized that there would be a statistically significant positive correlation between language dysfluencies and anxiety levels in women with the FMR1 premutation. To collect the language dysfluencies, each participant was asked to participate in a five-minute speech sample (FMSS) in which she spoke about her child for five minutes without any interruptions. After the FMSS was recorded, the videos were transcribed and reviewed for revisions, repetitions, pauses, abandoned utterances and filler words. These factors were considered the language dysfluencies. Each participant was also asked to take the Becks Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire. This questionnaire provided the anxiety scores that were run against the language dysfluencies to determine if there was a correlation between the two. It was determined that there was no relationship between anxiety scores and language dysfluencies in mothers with the FMR1 premutation. However, there was a statistically significant positive correlation in mothers without the premutation. In the future, other possible reasons behind the language dysfluencies will be investigated in these participants with the hope of obtaining a better understanding of how outside factors affect mothers with the FMR1 premutation.

Location

Wall 322

Start Date

3-25-2017 9:45 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Mar 25th, 9:45 AM

The Relationship Between General Anxiety and Language Dysfluencies in Mothers with the FMR1 Premutation

Wall 322

The FMR1 premutation is an X-linked genetic mutation that causes an increase in CGG repeats on the FMR1 gene. This mutation affects one in every 151 females. The mutation can cause delays in cognitive ability and these delays can, in turn, affect the ability to communicate. It was hypothesized that there would be a statistically significant positive correlation between language dysfluencies and anxiety levels in women with the FMR1 premutation. To collect the language dysfluencies, each participant was asked to participate in a five-minute speech sample (FMSS) in which she spoke about her child for five minutes without any interruptions. After the FMSS was recorded, the videos were transcribed and reviewed for revisions, repetitions, pauses, abandoned utterances and filler words. These factors were considered the language dysfluencies. Each participant was also asked to take the Becks Anxiety Inventory Questionnaire. This questionnaire provided the anxiety scores that were run against the language dysfluencies to determine if there was a correlation between the two. It was determined that there was no relationship between anxiety scores and language dysfluencies in mothers with the FMR1 premutation. However, there was a statistically significant positive correlation in mothers without the premutation. In the future, other possible reasons behind the language dysfluencies will be investigated in these participants with the hope of obtaining a better understanding of how outside factors affect mothers with the FMR1 premutation.