THE NICHD STUDY OF EARLY CHILD CARE

这项研究，使用有限的生态模型，将调查 与早期发育模式相关的某些发育结果 托儿所。核心问题是如何以及在何种程度上 家庭内外护理的各种组合影响 幼儿的发展轨迹。该模型使用 交替育儿的概念是连续的，而不是 在数量和质量上一分为二。这 概念要求一个研究设计，让孩子们沿着这个方向 连续体，而不是从理论上将它们分配给两个之一 完全可分离的群体，并检查相关的发展 结果。同样，它规定了查看的必要性 父母病史范围内的替代照料(包括 早期儿童保育)和个性、当前的家庭压力和 支持、家庭护理质量以及替代方案的范围和质量 已利用的护理。 这项研究将跟踪所有出生于 在两家小石城医院住了一个月，他们的父母 同意参与。我们将与家属取得联系 每三个月，轮流亲自或通过电话，直到 孩子们到了42个月大。在所有联系人、信息 将获得有关家庭、孩子和任何替代方案的信息 在此期间，儿童得到的照顾。附件中的 子女对父母的依赖，以及父母对父母的依恋 孩子，将在早期的几个时间点进行监测 数年，而不是在单一评估中。这个倒数 依恋将被作为一个中介变量进行检验， 可能会影响交替照料对儿童和AS的影响 因变量。年评估的主要因变量 孩子们将发展水平、健康和社交能力 能力。调查人员对参与调查充满热情 在协作项目中，并将修改计划评估 文书和评估时间表，以适应共享的 协议。

This study, using a limited ecological model, will investigate certain developmental outcomes associated with patterns of early child care. The central questions is how and to what extent various combinations of care inside and outside the home influence the developmental trajectories of young children. The model uses a concept of alternate child care which is continuous rather than dichotomous with regard to quantity as well as quality. This concept mandates a research design which places children along this continuum, rather than assigning them to one of two theoretically completely separable groups, and examines associated developmental outcomes. Likewise, it specifies the necessity of looking at alternate care within the context of parental history (including early child care) and personality, current family stresses and supports, quality of home care, and extent and quality of alternate care utilized. The study will follow a cohort sample of all infants born during a one-month period in two Little Rock hospitals whose parents consent to participate. Contact with the families will be made every three months, alternately in person and by telephone, until the children reach 42 months of age. At all contacts, information will be obtained about the family, the child, and any alternate care received by the child during the interim. Attachment of the child to the parents, and, likewise, attachment of the parents to the child, will be monitored at several points during the early years rather than in a single assessment. This reciprocal attachment will be examined both as an intervening variable which can influence the impact of alternate care on the children and as a dependent variable. The major dependent variables assessed in the children will be developmental level, health, and social competence. The investigators are enthusiastic about participating in the collaborative project and will modify planned assessment instruments and the assessment timetable to accommodate the shared protocol.