Early life childcare and later behavioral difficulties: a causal relationship? Data from the French EDEN study

Abstract

Among 1428 children participating in the French EDEN cohort study, we examined the relationship between childcare from 0 to 3 years(childminder, center-based, informal) and later trajectories of behavioral difficulties (ascertained via the Strengths and Difficulty Questionnaire at 3, 5.5 and 8 years) established using group-based trajectory modeling. Family and child characteristics were controlled for using Inverse Probability Weights. Children who were in center-based childcare had lower levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties in bivariate analyses, however these associations were no longer statistically significant after controlling for covariates. Compared to children who spent at least 1 year in center-based childcare, those who spent less than 1 year with a childminder as well as those who were in informal care had higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties in multivariate analyses. Early life childcare may have long-term benefits for children's behavioral and emotional development, particularly if it is of high quality and lasts at least 1 year