Processes and parent engagement in Early Head Start

描述(由申请者提供)：这个项目代表了一条新的调查路线，旨在了解未来取向和其他相关心理特征对早期Head Start参与者参与的影响。这样的理解可以提高早期Head Start计划的能力，以促进参与度和计划利用率。为此，对参加早期先导计划的孕妇和母亲的心理特征(代理、抑郁和关系态度)与未来定向水平进行研究，以预测计划参与的时间(例如，出席情况、约会时间、会议持续时间)和心理社会方面。该项目还需要探索在注册时与未来定向相关的参与者教育/职业目标发展，以及与注册后2个月和6个月的计划参与度相关的目标。此外，虽然目前的研究解决了孕妇和母亲(构成EHS照顾者的大多数)的特征，但计划对参加早期Head Start的儿童的父亲和其他男性照顾者进行一项关于相同变量的平行研究。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project represents a new line of inquiry aimed at understanding the influences of future orientation and other associated psychological characteristics on participant engagement in Early Head Start. Such an understanding could improve the capacity of Early Head Start programs to promote engagement and program utilization. To this end, the psychological characteristics (agency, depression, and relationship attitudes) of pregnant women and mothers enrolled in Early Head Start are to be studied in relation to level of future orientation, in order to predict temporal (e.g., attendance, keeping appointments, duration of meetings) and psychosocial aspects of program engagement. The project also entails an exploration of participant educational / occupational goal development at the time of enrollment in relation to future orientation, and in relation to program engagement at 2 and 6 months post enrollment. Also, while the current study addresses characteristics of pregnant women and mothers (who constitute the majority of EHS caregivers), a parallel study is planned of the same variables with fathers and other male caregivers of children enrolled in Early Head Start.