3-024 - Associations Between Early Education and Care and Parenting Attitudes and Behaviors With Three Diverse Samples

Session Type: Paper Symposium

Integrative Statement

A substantial number of young children in the United States spend an extensive amount of time in early education and care (EEC) settings (e.g., U.S. Census Bureau, 2011). Previous research tends to focus on the influence of EEC on children’s development (e.g., Gormley et al., 2005; Ramey et al., 2000). Fewer studies have focused on EEC in relation to parenting and caregiver-child relationships, despite EEC’s potential impact on the family system.

In this symposium, we take a multifaceted approach to studying EEC in relation to parenting behaviors and attitudes using three diverse samples. The first presentation investigates longitudinal patterns of childcare use and associations between childcare, parenting stress, and harsh parenting in a sample of adolescent mothers and their children. This study uncovers patterns of childcare use by adolescent mothers, how these patterns may affect maternal beliefs and practices, and elucidates how childcare may be integrated into the family system.

The second presentation explores the impact of Head Start on parenting outcomes including harsh parenting, caregiver-child book reading, and cognitive stimulation with children. This study also explores whether variation in program effects can be explained by variation in the types of families served by different centers.

The third presentation addresses Chinese immigrant parents' views about early education in the United States and how these attitudes impact their child-rearing practices. The study seeks to explore nuanced interpretations of Chinese immigrant parental perceptions of children’s social behaviors and Head Start’s role in influencing parental beliefs and attitudes.

Sub Unit

• Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Chairs

• Rachel C. Katz, SRCD Post-doctoral State Policy Fellow, Division of Early Intervention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tufts University

• Christina Padilla, Georgetown University

Individual Presentations

• Investigating Longitudinal Patterns of Child Care Use and Associations With Parenting Stress and Harsh Parenting - Presenting Author: Lauren E Stargel, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Rachel C. Katz, SRCD Post-doctoral State Policy Fellow, Division of Early Intervention, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Meera Menon, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Ann Easterbrooks, Tufts University

• Can Variation in Head Start Parenting Effects be Explained by Variation in Family-Level Characteristics? - Presenting Author: Christina Padilla, Georgetown University

• Examination of Chinese Immigrant Parents’ Beliefs About Children’s Social Development: A Mixed Methods Study - Presenting Author: Sunah Hyun, Tufts University; Non-Presenting Author: Christine M McWayne, Tufts University