The Benefits of Child Care Among Children Who Experience Neglect

Kierra Sattler , University of Texas at Austin

The negative effects of neglect on children’s development have been documented, and there is evidence to suggest that early childhood is a particularly vulnerable period for long-term outcomes. Thus, it is important to explore resources that might compensate for the effects of experiencing a neglectful household at a young age. One potential buffer is child care, but there is a lack of evidence of the protective benefits among children who experience neglect. Child care could potentially be compensatory as it places children in a stimulating environment with an engaged caregiver, however the associations between child care and children’s social-emotional and cognitive development might differ based on if the child experiences physical or supervisory neglect. To address these gaps in the literature, the current study investigated how different dimensions of child care were related to children's developmental outcomes and if these associations varied by type of neglect.

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 Presented in Session 2. Children & Youth