ERIC Number: EJ1240703
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 23
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1040-9289
EISSN: N/A
Linking Quantity and Quality of Early Childhood Education and Care to Children's Socio-Emotional Adjustment: A German Cross-Sectional Study
Kohl, Katharina; Bihler, Lilly-Marlen; Willard, Jessica A.; Agache, Alexandru; Leyendecker, Birgit
Early Education and Development, v31 n2 p177-199 2020
This study examined how quantity and quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC) are related to the socio-emotional adjustment of children born in Germany (30-48 months old, N = 395). Previous research focused on a small set of ECEC features, used broad measures, and yielded inconclusive results. We assessed ECEC quantity (age at entry, hours per week), process quality (CLASS Pre-K), structural quality (child-teacher ratio), and classroom composition (percentage of immigrant children). Controlling for child, family, and teacher characteristics, we tested main and interaction effects in regression analyses. Research Findings: More hours per week predicted lower adjustment only on specific indicators (hyperactivity, conduct problems) and only in classrooms with a high percentage of immigrant children or a high child-teacher ratio. In addition, a higher child-teacher ratio predicted more conduct problems, but only for children who entered ECEC at a very young age. Process quality did not predict adjustment. Practice or policy: In sum, this implies that German ECEC does not pose a major risk for children's socio-emotional adjustment, as only certain aspects of quantity and structural quality are linked to very specific socio-emotional outcomes under very specific circumstances.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Educational Quality, Early Childhood Education, Social Development, Emotional Development, Young Children, Teacher Student Ratio, Immigrants, Racial Composition, Student Characteristics, Family Characteristics, Teacher Characteristics, Time, Predictor Variables, Student Behavior, Behavior Problems, Age Differences
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Classroom Assessment Scoring System; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire; Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A