Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Correlates of maternal involvement in on-site and off-site day care centers

  • Articles
  • Published:
Child and Youth Care Forum Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study used an ecological framework to examine correlates of maternal involvement in on-site and off-site day care centers serving infants. Maternal involvement was defined as the amount of time mothers spend in the center, participation in caregiving in the center, and frequency and diversity of maternal communications with caregivers. On-site mothers who reported higher levels of separation anxiety from children spent significantly more time in the center. Child age was negatively related to the amount of time spent in the program among on-site mothers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson, A. (1991). Fathers' participation in day care.Early Child Development and Care, 66, 115–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baber, K. M., & Monaghan, P. (1988). College women's career and motherhood expectations: New options, old dilemmas.Sex Roles 19, 189–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barglow, P., Vaughn, B., & Molitor, N. (1987). Effects of maternal absence due to employment on the quality of infant-mother attachment in a low-risk sample.Child Development, 58, 945–954.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belsky, J., & Rovine, M. (1988). Nonmaternal care in the first year of life and infant-parent attachment security.Child Development, 59, 157–167.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J.(1969). Attachment and loss (Vol. 1, Attachment). London: Hogarth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss (Vol. 2, Separation). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bredekamp, S. (Ed.). (1987).Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8 (expanded ed.). Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). Is early intervention effective? A report on longitudinal evaluations of preschool programs (Vol.2). Washington, D.C.: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Office of Child Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979).The ecology of human development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R. (1992). Employer supported child care.Child and Youth Care Forum, 21, 361–366.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burchinal, M. R., Bryant, D. M., Lee, M. W., & Ramey, C. T. (1992). Early day care, infant-mother attachment, and maternal responsiveness in the infant's first year.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 7, 383–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caldwell, B. (1985). What is quality day care? In B. Caldwell & A. Hilliard (Eds.),What is quality day care? Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, S. (1979). Mother-infant interaction as a function of maternal ratings of temperament.Child Psychiatry and Human Development, 10, 67–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, W., & McDevitt, S. C. (1978). Revision of theInfant Temperament Questionnaire.Pediatrics, 61, 735–739.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cochran, M. (1988). Parental empowerment in family matters: Lessons learned from a research program. In D.R. Powell (Ed.),Parent education as early childhood intervention: Emerging directions in theory, research, and practice. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiene, R. J. (1979). Theoretical model for computing adult-child ratios. Harrisburg, PA: Bureau of Child Development, Association of Regulatory Administration.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullard, W., McDevitt, S. C., & Carey, W. B. (1984). Assessing temperament in one- to three-year-old children.Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 9, 205–217.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenberger, E., Goldberg, W.A., Crawford, T., & Granger, J. (1988). Beliefs about the consequences of maternal employment for children.Psychology of Women Quarterly, 12, 35–59.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberger, E., Goldberg, W. A., & Hamill, S. (1989). Spousal support for work and parenting. In E. Greenberger,Survey measures for the study of work, parenting, and well-being. Irvine, CA: University of California, Program in Social Ecology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenberger, E., & O'Neil, R. (1990). Parents' concerns about their child's development: Implications for fathers' and mothers' well-being and attitudes toward work.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52, 621–635.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grolnick, W. S., Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (1991). The inner resources of school achievement: Motivational mediators of children's perceptions of their parents.Journal of Educational Psychology, 83, 508–517.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grolnick, W. S., & Slowiaczek, M. L. (1994). Parents' involvement in children's schooling: A multidimensional conceptualization and motivational model.Child Development, 65, 237–252.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hock, E., McBride, S., & Gnezda, M. T. (1989). Maternal separation anxiety: Mother-infant separation from the maternal perspective.Child Development, 60, 793–802.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B. (1975).Four factor index of social status. New Haven, CT: Yalem University, Department of Sociology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, P. (1984). The relation of Israeli mothers toward infants in relation to infants' perceived temperament.Child Development, 55, 1212–1218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, M. E., Sternberg, K. J., Prodromidis, M. (1992). Nonmaternal care and the security of infant-mother attachment: A reanalysis of the data.Infant Behavior and Development, 15, 78–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamb, M.E., Thompson, R., Gardner, W., & Charnov, E. (1985).Infant-mother attachment. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E., Snow, M. E., & Jacklin, C. (1984). Children's dispositions and mother-child interaction at 12 and 18 months: A short-term longitudinal study.Developmental Psychology, 20, 459–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, K.O., & Lu, Y. (1988). Attitudes toward women's familial roles: Changes in the United States, 1977–1985.Gender and Society, 2, 39–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKey, R.H., Condelli, L., Ganson, H., Barrett, B.J., Mcconkey, C., & Plantz M.C. (1985).The impact of Head Start on children, families, and communities (DHHS Publication No. 85-31193). Washington, DC: CSR Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meyerhoff, M.K., & White, B. (1986). Making the grade as parents.Psychology Today, 20(9), 38–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, F.L., Piotrkowski, C.S., & Peay, L. (1987). Head Start as a social support for mothers: The psychological benefits of involvement.American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 220–233.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Peters-Martin, P., & Wachs, T. (1984). A longitudinal study in temperament and its correlates in the first 12 months.Infant Behavior and Development, 7, 285–298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, D. R. (1978). Correlates of parent-teacher communication frequency and diversity.The Journal of Educational Research, 71, 333–343.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, D. R. (1988). Emerging directions in parent-child intervention. In D. R. Powell (Ed.),Parent education as early childhood intervention. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Powell, D. R. (1989).Families and early childhood programs. Washington, D.C.: NAEYC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher, J.L., Weinraub, M., & Belsky, J. (1991).Child Care as Social Support Scale. Unpublished scale. Philadelphia: Temple University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shimoni, R., & Ferguson, B. (1992). Rethinking parent involvement in child care programs.Child and Youth Care Forum, 21, 105–118.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spanier, G. (1976). Measuring dyadic adjustment: New scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads.Journal of Marriage and the Family, 38, 15–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sroufe, L.A. (1988). The role of infant-caregiver attachment in development. In Belsky, J., & Nezworski, T. (Eds.),Clinical implications of attachment (pp. 18–38). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swick, K. J., & McKnight, S. (1989). Characteristics of kindergarten teachers who promote parent involvement.Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 4, 19–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissbourd, B. (1992). Making child care family-centered: A vision for the 90's.Child and Youth Forum, 21, 385–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, K. R., Bush, D. W., & Casto, G. C. (1985). Learning from previous reviews of early intervention.The Journal of Special Education, 19, 417–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, K. R., Taylor, M. J., & Moss, V. D. (1992). Does research support claims about the benefits of involving parents in early intervention programs?Review of Educational Research, 62, 91–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitehead, L. C. (1988). Cohesion and communication between families and day care: A proposed model.Child and Youth Care Quarterly, 17, 255–267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E. F., & Freedman, J. (1987). Head Start: A pioneer of family support. In S. L. Kagan, D. R. Powell, B. Weissbourd,& E. F. Zigler (Eds.),America's family support programs: Perspectives and prospects. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigler, E. F., & Turner, P. (1982). Parents and day care workers: A failed partnership? in E. F. Zigler & E. W. Gordon (Eds.),Day care: Scientific and social policy issues. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Administration, Temple University, Ritter Hall Annex, 5th floor, 13th Street & Cecil B. Moore Avenue, 19122, Philadelphia, PA

    Jay Fagan

Authors
  1. Jay Fagan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fagan, J. Correlates of maternal involvement in on-site and off-site day care centers. Child Youth Care Forum 23, 275–290 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02209090

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02209090

Keywords

Search

Navigation