Parent-preferred childcare environment styles: A latent class analysis and association with parental stress

Abstract

In recent years, child-rearing dimensions have been widely used as predictor variables. However, they are rarely examined as outcomes. Moreover, little is known about what constitutes good parenting. We aimed to identify the potential groups related to parents’ childcare environment preferences and examine its association with parental stress. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in government-licensed childcare centers among families with children aged 3–5 years across Japan. We investigated the childcare environment based on five dimensions—human stimulation, social stimulation, avoidance of restriction, parent cooperation, and social support—and sources of high parental stress, including childcare, health status, relationships, work, and others. The potential childcare environment groups were explored using latent class analysis. The relationship between parental stress and childcare environment was analyzed using a chi-square test and logistic regression model. Moreover, data from 928 families were collected and used for the analysis. Two latent class models were identified: a favorable childcare environment with high parent cooperation (F-H; probability = 76.4 %) and moderate childcare environment with low parent cooperation (M-L; probability = 23.6 %). High stress from childcare, health status, relationships, work, and other stressors were significantly related to M-L. Knowing the results would add evidence to childcare practice.