Non-parental Childcare During Early Childhood and Problem Behaviour Trajectories from Ages 5 to 14 Years

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K Burdenski1, W Johnson2, E Petherick2,3

  • 1School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Epinal Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. Kathrin.burdenski@gmail.com.

Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|May 14, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Starting formal childcare later was linked to increased internalizing behaviors in children up to age 14. Extensive early childcare hours (over 40/week) were associated with more externalizing behaviors at age 5.

Area of Science:

  • Child psychology
  • Developmental psychology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Formal childcare is increasingly common for young children.
  • Understanding its impact on child behavior is crucial for parents and policymakers.
  • Previous research has yielded mixed findings on childcare's long-term effects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between early formal childcare (age of entry and hours per week) and child behavior trajectories.
  • To examine internalizing and externalizing behaviors from ages 5 to 14.
  • To assess the influence of socio-economic position and maternal mental health on these associations.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the Millennium Cohort Study, a nationally representative sample of 6,194 children in England.
  • Employed multilevel general linear regression models to analyze behavioral trajectories.
  • Adjusted for key covariates including socio-economic position, maternal mental health, demographics, and child temperament.

Main Results:

  • Later age of starting formal childcare was associated with higher levels of internalizing behaviors at age 14.
  • Children spending over 40 hours per week in childcare between birth and 3 years showed more externalizing behaviors at age 5 compared to non-attending peers.
  • The strength of these associations was reduced when controlling for socio-economic position and parental mental health.

Conclusions:

  • The timing and intensity of early formal childcare may influence long-term child behavioral development.
  • Socio-economic factors and maternal mental health play a significant role in moderating the effects of childcare on behavior.
  • Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these associations and inform optimal childcare policies.

Keywords:
ChildcareEarly childhoodLongitudinalMental healthProblem behaviour

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