Abstract
The present study is the first to examine the relations between participation in a public early childhood intervention (the Child-Parent Center (CPC) program) and psychological well-being (or, positive functioning) into early mid-life. Data are drawn from the Chicago Longitudinal Study (CLS), which has followed a cohort of 1,539 individuals who grew up in urban poverty for over four decades. Approximately two-thirds of the original study cohort participated in the CPC program in early childhood; the rest comprise a demographically matched comparison group. Participants’ psychological functioning at age 35-37 was assessed using the Ryff Scales of Psychological Wellbeing. Results support a positive relationship between CPC preschool participation and long-term psychological wellbeing. Moderated mediation (e.g., whether CPC effects on wellbeing differ across subgroups) and potential mechanisms across multiple social-ecological levels (according to the 5-Hypothesis Model of early intervention) are also empirically investigated. Future directions for child development research, early childhood intervention, and public policy are discussed.
Highlights
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has identified improvement of mental health as a Healthy People 2030 objective, and emphasized that achieving this will require addressing social determinants of health (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, n.d.)
Part II of the present study explores two questions: Question 3: “Does socioemotional adjustment mediate the relationship between Child-Parent Center (CPC) preschool participation and long-term PW?” This question examines the extent to which 5HM mediators account for the overall main effect of program participation on PW in early midlife (Reynolds, 2000)
Summary across subgroups Overall, the previous results indicate that, for males, participants with no early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and participants with relatively lower levels of early sociodemographic risk, Cognitive-Scholastic Advantage was the strongest mechanism of influence linking CPC participation and PW
Summary
Cowen & Durlak, 2000) From this perspective, initiatives should aim to reduce rates of psychopathology, but to enhance skills and protective factors which will enable individuals to withstand adversity and lead meaningful, productive lives (e.g., Galderisi et al, 2015; Halle & Darling-Churchill, 2016; Keyes, 2002; Masten & Curtis, 2000). Initiatives should aim to reduce rates of psychopathology, but to enhance skills and protective factors which will enable individuals to withstand adversity and lead meaningful, productive lives (e.g., Galderisi et al, 2015; Halle & Darling-Churchill, 2016; Keyes, 2002; Masten & Curtis, 2000) To this end, the present study investigates whether participation in an early childhood education program is related to long-term PW (through early midlife) in a low-income, predominately African American cohort. PW is not the mere absence of psychopathology symptoms; rather, individuals on this end of the continuum possess psychological skills and resources that enable them to withstand adversity and build meaningful lives (Camfield & Skevington, 2008; Diener, 1984; Diener & Diener, 1995; Ryff & Keyes, 1995; Ryff & Singer, 1996; World Health Organization, 2014)
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