Child care quality and children's behavioral adjustment: A four-year longitudinal study

Author(s): Pinkerton, R., Scarr, S.

Journal/Book: J Child Psychol Psychiat. 1996; 37: The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England OX5 1GB. Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd. 937-948.

Abstract: Studies of extensive, full-time child care in infancy and early childhood have shown negative, positive and no effects on children's social-emotional development. The current study explored the prediction of children's behavioral adjustment 4 years after assessments of daycare center quality (e.g. Caregiver-child interactions, caregiver-to-child ratios) and of the home and family environment (e.g. Parental stress, discipline). Participants included 141 school-age children (73 girls) and their employed mothers (91% Euro-American) who had made use of full-time child care when the children were toddlers or preschoolers. Home environment factors and earlier behaviors were predictive of individual differences in adjustment 4 years later, particularly for maternal ratings of child behaviors. By contrast, indicators of center quality were generally unrelated to mother and teacher ratings of behavioral adjustment.

Note: Article DeaterDeckard K, Inst Psychiat, 113 Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, ENGLAND

Keyword(s): daycare; behaviour problems; middle childhood; INFANT DAY-CARE; SOCIOECONOMIC-STATUS; HOME CARE; FAMILY; KINDERGARTEN; INTERVENTION; PERSPECTIVES; ENVIRONMENT; AGGRESSION; MOTHERS

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