Does Quality of Child Care Affect Child Outcomes at Age 4 1/2?

• Published in: Developmental psychology 2003-05, Vol.39 (3), p.451-469
• Main Author: NICHD Early Child Care Research Network
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attribution; Biological and medical sciences; Causal Influences; Causal Models; Child; Child Care; Child Care Effects; Child Care Quality; Child Development; Child psychology; Cognitive Development; Development; Developmental psychology; Early Childhood Development; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human; Infant Development; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Newborn. Infant; NICHD Study of Early Child Care; Outcomes of Education; Predictor Variables; Preschool Children; Program Effectiveness; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Quality of Care; USA
• ISSN: 0012-1649; 1939-0599
• DOI: 10.1037/0012-1649.39.3.451

Research reveals associations between child-care quality and child outcomes. But are these associations causal? Data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Study of Early Child Care, a longitudinal study of children from birth to age 41/2, were used to explore 5 propositions that would support a causal argument. Three propositions received support, principally in the cognitive domain: (a) Associations between quality and outcomes remained even with child and family factors controlled; (b) associations between care and outcomes were domain specific; and (c) outcomes were predicted by quality of earlier care with concurrent care controlled. The 4th proposition, that associations between quality and outcomes would be significant with earlier abilities controlled, received limited support. There was no support for the 5th proposition, that quality and outcomes would exhibit dose-response relations.