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Not Babysitting: Work Stress and Well-Being for Family Child Care Providers

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Abstract

Family child care providers contend with a number of work stressors related to the dual roles of operating a small business and providing child care in their home. Research has documented many sources of work related stress for family child care providers; however, research examining family child care providers’ experiences outside of the lens of quality of care and child outcomes is dated and scant. This study consisted of three focus groups of 11 family child care providers who shared their perspectives on work related stressors and well-being. Many of the study findings were congruent with previous research in the field; however, a key finding in this study was the importance of family child care providers to assert and establish a professional identity to mitigate work related stress. Recommendations and strategies to assist family child providers in constructing a professional identity are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Dr. Jemel P. Aguilar and Diane McDaniel Rhodes for their assistance in editing this article. The project was supported by the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health JRG-085. Points of view in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Hogg Foundation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, 1925 San Jacinto Blvd, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Paula Gerstenblatt, Monica Faulkner, Ahyoung Lee & Linh Thy Doan

  2. Corporate Practice Research Catalyst, 120 Wall Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY, 10005, USA

    Dnika Travis

Authors
  1. Paula Gerstenblatt
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  2. Monica Faulkner
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  3. Ahyoung Lee
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  4. Linh Thy Doan
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  5. Dnika Travis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paula Gerstenblatt.

Appendix I: Focus Group Guide

Appendix I: Focus Group Guide

  1. 1.

    Introduction

    1. a.

      Review consent form

    2. b.

      Introduce group facilitator and note taker

  2. 2.

    Questions

    NOTE: These questions are a guide. Prompting questions will be asked depending on the participant’s responses.

    We are interested in learning about your jobs as child care providers and how you take care of yourselves. First, can you tell me a little about any stress in you may experience in your workplace?

    • What parts of your job feel stressful?

    • How does stress affect your ability to do your job?

    • How does work related stress affect you off the job?

    Now I am going to ask you questions about how you take care of yourself

    • Is there someone you seek support from at work when you feel stressed?

    • How does this person (or people) support you in reducing stress?

    • If there is no one you can rely on, how do you handle your stress?

    • Is there someone you seek support from outside of work when you feel stressed?

    • How does this person (or people) support you in reducing stress?

    • What are other ways you try to reduce stress?

  3. 3.

    Closing

    1. a.

      Answer any questions

    2. b.

      Pass out gift cards

    3. c.

      Direct people to mental health resources if needed

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Gerstenblatt, P., Faulkner, M., Lee, A. et al. Not Babysitting: Work Stress and Well-Being for Family Child Care Providers. Early Childhood Educ J 42, 67–75 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0571-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-012-0571-4

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