Impact of daycare on aggressiveness

Impact of daycare on aggressiveness

1. NEGATIVE EFFECTS:

   • NICHD Longitudinal Study
     • Conducted in the US since 1991, involving over 1,000 children from diverse backgrounds.
       • At age 5, children who had been in day care were rated as more assertive, disobedient and aggressive. Children in full time care (30+ hrs) were three times more likely to show behavioural problems.

2. NICHD results could show day care is not necessarily associated with aggressiveness. 83% of children attending day care for less than 30 hours did not show higher levels of aggression (Friedman)

   • NICHD data also shows that the mother's sensitivity to her child was a better indicator of reported problem behaviours than the time spent in day care (less sensitivity = more behaviour problems)
     • Research does not demonstrate that day care has caused behavioural problems, only that there is a correlation between the two

3. Mediating factors: Quality of care (NICHD)

   • Lack of commitment from parents
   • Individual differences
     • Number of hours spent in day care
   • Child's age (it is said if a child starts day care before 18 months they are more likely to show negative effects