Processes and parent engagement in Early Head Start

描述（由申请人提供）：这个项目代表了一个新的研究方向，旨在了解未来取向和其他相关的心理特征对早期学前教育参与者参与的影响。这样的理解可以提高早期开端计划的能力，以促进参与和计划的利用。为此，将研究参加Early Head Start的孕妇和母亲的心理特征（代理、抑郁和关系态度）与未来取向水平的关系，以预测项目参与的时间（例如，出勤、遵守约定、会议持续时间）和心理社会方面。该项目还需要探索参与者在入学时的教育/职业目标发展与未来方向的关系，以及入学后2个月和6个月的项目参与情况。此外，虽然目前的研究针对的是孕妇和母亲（她们构成了EHS照顾者的大多数）的特征，但计划对参加Early Head Start的儿童的父亲和其他男性照顾者进行同样的变量的平行研究。

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.