36 research outputs found
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Living in Non-Parental Care Moderates Effects of Prekindergarten Experiences on Externalizing Behavior Problems in School
The current study examines the effects of prekindergarten quality and quantity on externalizing
behavior problems for children living in non-parental care, compared to other children from
socioeconomically at-risk backgrounds. Data were obtained from the Head Start Impact Study.
Non-parental care was defined as a primary caregiver other than a biological, adoptive, or step-parent.
The sample included 3029 children who attended center-based prekindergarten. Teacher-child
conflict and more hours of prekindergarten predicted increased externalizing behavior
problems for the full sample. Teacher-child closeness and overall process quality were only
associated with externalizing behavior for children in non-parental care. Findings are discussed
within a goodness-of-fit perspective in which the vulnerabilities of children in non-parental care
explain how they respond to their prekindergarten experiences.Keywords: teacher-child relationships, early care and education quality, non-parental care, school readiness, externalizing behavior problems, prekindergarte
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School readiness in children living in non-parental care: Impacts of Head Start
The current study examines the effects of Head Start on the development of school readiness outcomes for children living in non-parental care. Data were obtained from the Head Start Impact Study, a randomized controlled trial of Head Start conducted with a nationally representative sample of Head Start programs and families. The sample included 253 children living in non-parental care (defined as a primary caregiver who self-identified as someone other than a biological, adoptive, or step-parent), who experienced elevated rates of child and family risk factors. Results revealed modest direct short-term and indirect longer-term impacts of Head Start on school readiness outcomes (increased pre-academic skills, more positive teacher–child relationships, and reductions in behavior problems) for children living in non-parental care. Limitations of this study and directions for future research are discussed.Keywords: Teacher-child relationships, Preschool, Externalizing behavior, School readiness, Head Start, Non-parental careKeywords: Teacher-child relationships, Preschool, Externalizing behavior, School readiness, Head Start, Non-parental car
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Parental Monitoring of Children’s Media Consumption: The Long-term Influences on Body Mass Index in Children
IMPORTANCE: Although children’s media consumption has been one of the most robust risk factors for childhood obesity, effects of specific parenting influences, such as parental media monitoring, have not been effectively investigated.
OBJECTIVES: This study examined the potential influences of maternal and paternal monitoring of child media exposure and children’s general activities on children’s BMI in middle childhood.
DESIGN: A longitudinal study, taken from a subsample of the Three Generational Study, with assessments at children’s ages of 5, 7, and/or 9 years collected from 1998-2012.
SETTING: The Three Generational Study, a predominantly Caucasian, Pacific-Northwest U.S. community sample (overall participation rate 90%).
PARTICIPANTS: Analyses included 112 mothers, 103 fathers and their 213 children (55% girls) at ages 5, 7, and/or 9 years. Participation rates ranged from 67% to 72% of all eligible Three Generational Study children across the three assessments.
MAIN EXPOSURES: Parents reported on their general monitoring of their children (whereabouts and activities), specific monitoring of child media exposure, children’s participation in sports and recreational activities, children’s media time (hours/week), annual income, and education level. Parental BMI was recorded.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Predictions to level and change in child BMI z scores were tested.
RESULTS: Linear mixed-effects modeling indicated that more maternal, but not paternal, monitoring of child media exposure predicted lower child BMI z scores at age 7 years (95% CI, -.39 – -.07) and less steeply increasing child BMI z scores from ages 5-9 years (95% CI, -.11 – -.01). These effects held when controlling for more general parental monitoring, and parent BMI, income and education. Results supported that the significant negative effect of maternal media monitoring on children’s BMI z scores at age 7 years was marginally accounted for by the effect of child media time. The maternal media monitoring effect on children’s BMI z score slopes remained significant once adjusting for children’s media time, and sports and recreational activity.
CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that parental behaviors related to children’s media consumption may have long-term impacts on children’s BMI in middle childhood. The results underscore the importance of targeting parental media monitoring in efforts to prevent childhood obesity
Effects of Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care for Preschoolers (MTFC-P) on reducing permanent placement failures among children with placement instability
The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of a therapeutic intervention for foster preschoolers with histories of placement instability on permanency outcomes and to determine whether the intervention's effectiveness on these outcomes varied based on prior maltreatment experiences. Permanency outcomes for 52 children who had experienced 4 or more placements prior to study entry (n=29 intervention condition; n=23 regular foster care condition) were examined through 24months post-study entry. The results indicated no group differences in permanency attempt rates but more than double the rate of successful permanency attempts for the intervention condition. The findings indicated that systematic interventions have the potential to impact permanency outcomes among children with prior instability.Foster care Permanency Placement instability