Child Care Experiences Research Articles

Gender theory approaches to fathers’ parental leave experiences of primary childcare: a review of Nordic publications 1992–2020

ABSTRACT Since the 1990s, fathers’ use of parental leave has become commonplace, normalised, and expected, especially in the Nordic countries, which were the first to introduce earmarked periods of paid leave for fathers. This development has given rise to a research field that is explored and conceptualised in this systematic literature review as gender research on fathers’ parental leave experiences of primary childcare. The aim is to identify and critically discuss salient gender theory approaches within this research field. The materials comprise26 publications analysed using a thematic and retroductive method. Three salient gender theory approaches are identified and discussed: ‘the empirically situated gender theory approach,’ ‘the multilevel gender theory approach,’ and ‘the masculinity theory approach.’ To avoid theoretical homogenisation and a reified understanding of the notion of masculinities, I suggest that emerging gender theory approaches in the field of gender research on fathers’ parental leave experiences need to be developed – in dialogue with feminist fatherhood research, CSMM, and childhood studies. Firstly, there is a need to theorise themes positioned as empirical ‘findings’. Secondly, a deliberate child perspective is needed. Finally, gender theory approaches need to overcome the ‘either/or’ situation, in which the analyses are either empirically grounded or theoretically informed.

Selumetinib for children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and plexiform neurofibromas that can't be removed by surgery, and impact on how the condition affects caregivers: a plain language summary.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (also called NF1) is a rare genetic condition. It causes a range of symptoms that develop from childhood onwards and worsen over time. Some children with NF1 develop non-cancerous nerve tumors called plexiform neurofibromas. Plexiform neurofibromas can grow large and compress nearby tissues. This can cause severe pain, reduced movement, vision and hearing loss, and other medical problems. Some children can have plexiform neurofibromas removed surgically. Most children have tumors that cannot be removed by surgery (known as inoperable tumors). Children with inoperable plexiform neurofibromas can receive a medicine called selumetinib. This plain language summary includes important findings from two selumetinib studies in children with NF1 and inoperable plexiform neurofibromas: The SPRINT selumetinib studies are part of a clinical study program that looked at how well selumetinib works in treating children with symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas. The SPRINT studies program included the first studies of this medicine done in children, called phase 1 and phase 2 studies. For the phase 2 study, some children had severe symptoms and some children did not. The group of children with severe symptoms is called group 1, and their results are included in this summary. The researchers monitored the participating children for up to 5years in a long-term study to better understand how the treatment works over time. The NF1 caregivers experience study is a related study where caregivers shared their experiences of caring for children with NF1and plexiform neurofibromas. A total of 74 children took part in the SPRINT phase 1 and phase 2 (group 1) study. Their ages ranged from 3 to 18.5years, and their average age was 10.3years. After more than 4years of treatment, around 70% of the children (52 out of 74) had smaller tumors. For most children, the responses lasted beyond 1year. There was a significant and lasting reduction in the intensity of the children';s tumor pain, noticeable as early as 2months after starting the treatment. After 12months, children reported their pain dropped from an average score of 2.2 to 0.6 and stayed low at 0.58 over 4years. There was also an improvement in how much their pain affected the children's ability to do daily tasks. Some children had side effects related to selumetinib, although these were generally manageable. Results from the NF1 caregivers experience study showed caregivers of children with plexiform neurofibromas face significant impacts in physical, psychological, economic, and social aspects. These effects often result in a loss of productivity and difficulties with daily activity. Children with NF1 who have symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas can benefit from selumetinib treatment. Selumetinib is generally well-tolerated, but it is important to monitor side effects during treatment. Caring for a child with NF1 and symptomatic, inoperable plexiform neurofibromas has a significant impact on family members and others providing daily care. This highlights the importance of improving treatment and quality of life for both children with the condition and their caregivers.

Mother's Experience of Caring for Children with Stunting in the Riverside of Banjar Regency

Introduction: Stunting is one of the most common impacts of chronic malnutrition in the world. Banjar Regency is one of the regencies in South Kalimantan that has experienced a significant increase in stunting cases. Mothers often act as the primary caregivers of children, thus all actions taken by mothers related to care including fulfilling nutritional needs can affect the health and nutritional status of their children. It is important for a mother to have good knowledge about fulfilling nutrition for children, fulfilling immunizations, maintaining sanitation and treating infectious diseases in children. One way to gain knowledge is from experience. Mothers with stunted children have experiences that can be lessons regarding the actions taken during treatment, the obstacles felt and how to prevent stunting in the next generation. Objective: This study aims to explore the experiences of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. Method: A qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was used in this study. Data were collected using the in-depth interview method and analyzed using the sequence: transcribing, categorizing, using N-Vivo 12. The population in this study were all mothers who had stunted children in the riverside of ??Banjar Regency. In this study, mothers who became participants were selected using a purposive sampling method, namely data was taken from information from health center officers in Banjar Regency with inclusion criteria having experience caring for children with stunting, being able to communicate well and being willing to be participants. Data saturation was obtained on the 16th participant. Result: The results of this study identified 5 themes, namely children's eating habits, children's conditions, mothers' efforts, mothers' difficulties and the role of fathers. Children's eating habits include incomplete menus, eating little, eating irregularly, eating without side dishes, and snacks before eating. The condition of stunted children in this study was slow development, frequent illness, and poor sleep quality. Mother’s efforts were to provide exclusive breastfeeding and routinely go to posyandu. The difficulties faced by mothers were difficulty in accessing health facilities, economic problems, children who did not want to be separated from their mothers, confusion in handling stunting and the presence of a closed mouth movement in children. The role of fathers included collaborating with mothers in parenting and being less involved in parenting. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained in this study was that 5 themes were obtained from the experience of mothers in caring for children with stunting in the riverside of Banjar Regency.

The relationship between grandparental childcare experience and relative handgrip strength among middle-aged and older adults

Delayed marriage and childbirth often result in individuals becoming grandparents in middle and older age, coinciding with significant physical transitions. This study examines the relationship between the intensity of grandparental childcare, measured in terms of time-commitment over the last year, and relative handgrip strength among South Korea adults aged 45–84. Data from 3,742 participants with grandchildren were analyzed using the 2008–2010 waves of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging. After applying propensity score matching, a final sample of 286 participants was analyzed with multivariate logistic regression model. Results showed that grandparents who provided childcare for an average of less than 40 h per week (Odds Ratio [OR] = 3.62) were more likely to have lower handgrip strength compared to those without caregiving experience. Additionally, those over the age of 65 showed a similar trend (OR = 2.76). Conversely, grandparents with positive self-rated health were less likely to exhibit lower handgrip strength than those rating their health as moderate (OR = 0.28). Grandparents who provided care for more than half the year were also less likely to have lower handgrip strength than those who provided less frequent care (OR = 0.26). This study highlights grandparental childcare as both a vital family support mechanism and a factor influencing physical health. Findings on caregiving intensity, particularly the role of moderate weekly childcare hours and longer terms involvement, underscore the importance of aligning caregiving commitments with grandparents’ health perceptions and capacities. Developing guidelines for optimal childcare duration and recommending physical activities tailored to support grandparents’ well-being would further promote healthy aging within a family-centered caregiving system.

An Exploratory Study on Fathers Involvement in Parenting Based on Grounded Theory

This study uses a grounded theory approach to explore the behaviors and influencing factors of fathers involved in participatory parenting. Through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with fathers who have childcare experience, relevant data was collected and analyzed step by step using open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. This process distilled the core categories of fathers' involvement in participatory parenting. The main aspects of fathers' participatory parenting behavior include emotional support, daily care, educational involvement, and role perception. This study enriches the theoretical framework of paternal parenting behavior, reveals the multifaceted and complex nature of fathers' involvement in parenting, and highlights the importance of enhancing the fathers role in childcare policies and practices.

Meeting the challenges of participation? Care experienced people’s involvement in social work practice and policy development

ABSTRACT Although the last decade has seen policy initiatives in the UK aiming to improve the experiences of children in care and care leavers, most have received criticism for either not involving care experienced people, or for their lack of inclusivity. Indeed, little is known about the extent to which people with lived experience shape practice and policy developments, which reflects a significant gap in our understanding of what trying to make changes to care systems looks, feels and is like from an insider perspective. This paper considers attempts to influence practice and policy from the perspectives of 15 care experienced people who had been involved in substantive public campaign work relating to children in state care and care leavers in Scotland and England. Participants shared their experiences of working to influence change and highlighted good and bad practice that they had encountered working with different individuals and organisations claiming to promote the views of those with lived experience. The paper highlights the motivations, costs, barriers and facilitators for care experienced campaigners working to improve care systems. It concludes by sharing good practice to ensure that participation is properly appreciated, valued, and ethically informed.

General emergency physician perceptions of caring for children: A qualitative interview study.

Emergency physicians care for most children presenting to U.S. emergency departments (EDs). Pediatric exposure during emergency medicine (EM) residency can be variable and critically ill children are rarely encountered. A recent needs assessment revealed that emergency physicians feel less prepared to manage various conditions in children and that infants, regardless of presenting complaint, pose particular challenges. Emergency physician perceptions of the experience of caring for pediatric patients have not been widely examined through a qualitative lens. We designed an interview-based qualitative study to explore emergency physician perspectives on pediatric patient care. We recruited emergency physicians who graduated from residency in 2015-2019 and all rotated through the same large tertiary children's hospital. Four trained interviewers conducted in-depth, one-on-one virtual interviews. An interdisciplinary team transcribed and then coded the interviews. The team performed a conventional content analysis for themes. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation was achieved. Twelve participants completed interviews. These participants trained in five diverse residency programs. Likewise, the participants now practice in a variety of settings. Three major themes emerged from the data: (1) experience and exposure are key to establishing comfort caring for children; (2) simulation, pathways, and the pediatric anesthesia rotation are educationally useful; and (3) caring for children poses unique emotional challenges. Participants shared many recommendations for future pediatric education for EM trainees, including increasing autonomy and exposure to neonates and considering how care might differ in a community setting. This interview-based qualitative study elucidates key themes in recently graduated emergency physicians' perceived experience of caring for children. Our findings have important educational implications for this group of emergency physicians and those who share similar experiences in training and practice.

보육교사 개인 변인에 따른 전문성, 교수효능감, 자긍심의 차이와 영향력의 주 효과 및 상호작용 효과

This study was conducted to analyze the differences in professionalism, teaching efficacy, and self-esteem based on the individual characteristics of childcare teachers, and to predict their influence by analyzing the main and interaction effects among the variables. The subjects of the study were 354 childcare teachers working in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The results revealed the following: First, there were significant differences in professionalism and teaching efficacy according to the class in charge, age, education, and childcare experience, while self-esteem showed differences based on educational background. Second, a positive correlation was found between the professionalism, teaching efficacy, and self-esteem of childcare teachers. Third, professionalism, teaching efficacy, and self-esteem were identified as significant factors that influence one another. When professionalism and self-esteem were introduced as independent variables, they had the greatest effect on teaching efficacy. In the analysis of interaction effects, the interaction between professionalism and self-esteem was found to have the greatest impact on teaching efficacy. These findings suggest that, in order to improve teaching efficacy in a childcare environment where various factors interact, both professionalism and self-esteem must be considered together. This study aims to provide fundamental data for continuous education and to inform policies that enhance the professionalism and self-esteem of childcare teachers.

Life After Neonatal Seizures: Characterizing the Longitudinal Parent Experience

BackgroundParents of neonates with seizures report persistent symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress. We aimed to characterize the parent experience of caring for children impacted by neonatal seizures, including longitudinal assessment across childhood. MethodsThis prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted at Neonatal Seizure Registry (NSR) sites in partnership with the NSR Parent Advisory Panel. Parents completed surveys at discharge; 12, 18, and 24 months; and 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 years. Surveys included demographic information and open-ended questions targeting parent experience. A conventional content analysis approach was used. ResultsA total of 320 caregivers completed at least one open-ended question, with the majority of respondents at discharge (n = 142), 12 months (n = 169), 18 months (n = 208), and 24 months (n = 245). We identified the following three primary themes. (1) Personal Burden of Care: Parents experienced emotional distress, financial strain, physical demands, and fears for their child's unknown outcome; (2) Managing Day-to-Day Life: Parents described difficulties navigating their parenting role, including managing their child's challenging behaviors and understanding their child's needs amid neurodevelopmental impairment; (3) My Joys as a Parent: Parents valued bonding with their child, being a caregiver, and watching their child's personality grow. ConclusionsParents of children impacted by neonatal seizures face persistent challenges, which are interwoven with the joys of being a parent. Our findings suggest that future interventions should promote resiliency, address caregivers’ psychosocial needs longitudinally, and provide enhanced support for parents caring for children with medical complexity.

Spatial norms as traversable and gendered: A study of parental experiences of no-kids zones in South Korea

This study examines the emergent yet understudied cultural phenomenon of ‘no-kids zones’ in South Korea, a business policy in commercial establishments prohibiting children and their caregivers from entering its premises. Drawing on 32 in-depth interviews of mothers and fathers with active caregiving responsibilities for young children, we examine the impact of the no-kids zone policies on parents’ everyday childcare experiences in urban consumption spaces. We argue that the rise of no-kids zones, indicative of a lack of social ethos of care, has further intensified unwelcoming sentiments towards children and parents, with mothers particularly subject to gendered stigma and blame around caregiving. We first find that spatial norms traverse; the acceptance and popularization of no-kids zones have in turn led to an expansion of hostile sentiments in urban consumption spaces beyond no-kids zones. We also find that such exclusionary norms manifest in gendered ways, with mothers reporting notably heightened levels of wariness and consciousness about how they are perceived by other consumers. We offer novel perspectives and insights on the intersection of societal norms and spatial configurations which, together shape caregiving experiences within urban consumption spaces. Our work highlights a gendered understanding of the challenges and dynamics parents face as they navigate child-unfriendly spaces.

What About the Influence of Outdoor Quality on Preschoolers’ Cognitive and Social Skills?

ABSTRACT Research Findings: Outdoor environments have recently become part of the early childhood quality puzzle, which has long been important to trace relationships between children’s experiences in child care and their development. However, fewer studies have analyzed the extent to which the quality of these outdoor spaces relates to young children’s social and cognitive outcomes. This study analyzed data collected from a randomized sample of 92 licensed child care programs and 405 preschool children located across North Carolina, United States. Multilevel analyses showed that outdoor environment quality was associated with children’s abstraction and flexible thinking skills above and beyond global levels of classroom quality. Correlation analyses revealed that in outdoor environments with more natural elements, children displayed fewer behavior problems. Practice or Policy: Outdoor quality measures need to be more widely tested in relation to child outcomes. The influence of child care outdoor environment quality on children’s development should to be more deeply understood through longitudinal designs and ecological theories of human development, which allow conceptualizing developmental change over time as a function of interactions between individuals and context.

Experiences of Visually Impaired Mothers in Childcare and Their Expectations from Nurses.

Background and Purpose: Research on the childcare experiences of visually impaired mothers and their expectations from nurses in this context is relatively scarce. This study aims to explore the experiences of visually impaired mothers in caring for their children, as well as their expectations from nurses during this process. The goal is to provide strategic recommendations for nurses based on these expectations. Methods: The study utilized a phenomenological design and employed a qualitative methodology. Data for this study were collected in six different provinces of Turkey between March 2019 and May 2020. The study group consisted of 25 visually impaired mothers with nondisabled children aged 0-18 years. Results: The analysis yielded four themes: "Postpartum Emotions and Care at 0-1 Years," "Hygienic Care of the Child," "Experiences in the Child's Illness," and "Nursing Support: Expectations of Visually Impaired Mothers." While the first three themes are associated with childcare, the fourth theme encompasses both the expectations from nurses and recommendations for visually impaired mothers. The study found that visually impaired mothers had unique experiences and either received assistance or developed childcare strategies. However, it was observed that nurses struggled to empathize with visually impaired mothers, and efforts to address their specific needs were limited. Implications for Practice: Pediatric nurses should develop methods to facilitate childcare for visually impaired mothers. Successful outcomes in this field depend on nurses collaborating with visually impaired mothers and providing them with ongoing support.

1F1-2 Comparison of appropriate wearing rates of baby carriers by childcare experience and reasons for this comparison

1F1-2 Comparison of appropriate wearing rates of baby carriers by childcare experience and reasons for this comparison

Improving the clinician experience of caring for children with severe neurological impairment by meeting caregiver and family needs.

This commentary is on the original article by Nevin et al. on pages 1622–1631 of this issue.

다문화가정 해체와 다문화 조손가정 조모의 양육 경험 : 근거이론을 중심으로

The increase in multicultural families has simultaneously led to an increase in the number of multicultural families broken up due to divorce, bereavement, runaway, etc. The expansion of multicultural families in rural areas has led to the phenomenon of grandmothers taking full responsibility for raising their grandchildren. This study explored the parenting experiences of grandmothers in multicultural families using grounded theory. The core category was ‘Embracing the burden of raising children and finding the meaning of the experience of raising children in old age.’In axial coding, the central phenomenon was 'acquired burden of parenting', the causal condition was 'dissolution of multicultural family', the contextual condition was ‘entrenched maternal instinct', the mediating condition was 'cooperative parenting system', and the action/interaction were ‘the joys and sorrows of parenting’ and ‘grandmother-style parenting strategies’. The result was ‘a life of nurturing that has become a value of existence.’ Upon the understanding the grandmothers’childcare experience through their vivid voices, social welfare support measures were presented.

Impact of self-efficacy and professional identity on Japanese early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers’ absenteeism tendency and turnover intention

ABSTRACT Since many early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers in Japan intend to quit, studying their career continuity is imperative. Preschool teacher self-efficacy and professional identity are important for career continuity. This study examined their impact on absenteeism tendency and turnover intention in 727 ECEC teachers based on childcare experience. Multi-group structural equation modelling revealed that preschool teacher self-efficacy and professional identity associations with absenteeism tendency and turnover intention differed based on childcare experience. Professional identity affected ECEC teachers’ absenteeism tendency and turnover intention more strongly than did self-efficacy, highlighting their importance for understanding ECEC teachers’ professional growth and adjustment.

Age and parous-experience dependent changes in emotional contagion for positive infant sounds.

Emotional contagion is achieved by inferring and emotionally resonating with other persons' feelings. It is unclear whether age-related changes in emotional contagion for infant sounds are modulated by the experience of childbirth or childcare. This study aims to evaluate changes in inference and emotional resonance for positive and negative infant sounds (laughter and crying) among women, based on age and parous experience. A total of 241 women (60 young nulliparous, 60 young parous, 60 old nulliparous, and 61 old parous) completed a web-based questionnaire. After listening to three types of infant sounds (laughter, cooing, and crying), participants responded with their valence for hearing infant sounds and estimated infant valence on an 11-point Likert scale. The analysis for emotional resonance revealed that the correlation coefficient between self and estimated infant valences was greater in young parous and old nulliparous women than in young nulliparous women, in laughter and cooing sounds. However, correlation coefficients for crying did not differ among any of the four groups. The degree of emotional resonance for infant valence increased depending on age and parous-experience for positive infant sounds.

“Did I do the right thing?” Nurses' experiences of caring for victims of child maltreatment: A qualitative study

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore and gain insight into pediatric nurses' lived experiences in caring for children who experienced maltreatment. Design and methodA qualitative descriptive phenomenological approach using Giorgi's method was used to support the inquiry of this study. Participants were recruited through the Society of Pediatric Nurses (SPN) and the International Association of Forensic Nursing (IAFN). To collect data, the research team conducted semi-structured interviews individually with each participant online via online video conferencing. ResultsA total of 21 nurses participated in the study. In the final analysis of data, six meaning units are found: (1) helplessly watching children relive the traumatizing events, (2) lack of knowledge and training on caring for children who experienced maltreatment, (3) adversarial relationship and resentment towards parents, (4) conflicting emotions and feelings, (5) long-lasting effects of trauma, and (6) feelings of isolation and loneliness. ConclusionsPediatric and forensic nurses' experiences of caring for children who experienced maltreatment were highlighted by the fact that they lacked the knowledge of caring for these children and felt isolated. Practice implicationsImplementing simulation training on nurses' knowledge and confidence in caring for children who experienced maltreatment is a paramount of importance. This in turn may improve nurses' sense of belonging and enhance the quality of care victims receive.

Mothers' memories: an approach to maternal mental health

Psychological distress in women who are mothers is a serious public health concern that greatly affects the physical, social, and emotional development of their babies. Often, mothers with mental health issues do not receive the care they require, not only because of the persistent social stigma associated with mental illness, but also due to a lack of resources. From the perspective of our perinatal and child-rearing psychiatry practice, and based on the available literature, we reflect on the care received by those women, who are now mothers, during their own childhoods and its impact on how they currently experience motherhood. Early attachments have a deep impact on both memory and behavior throughout our lifetimes. When they become mothers, women may update their own childcare experiences, a phenomenon known as “psychic transparency” and mobilize the lessons they received as infants about relationships, care, and emotional regulation. The anxiety and frustration faced by mothers today seem to arise, partially, from the conflict between the parenting style they want to offer their babies (warm and conscious) and the one they received at a time when prevailing theories discouraged breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact. Taking care of mothers’ emotional states and supporting their relationship with their babies is a necessary and urgent public health measure, which has intergenerational repercussions in mental health.

“Unable to Feed My Hungry Child”: Experiences of Mothers Caring for Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome

Mothers’ experiences of caring for children with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is largely unknown. With no treatment for PWS, parents undertake (extra)ordinary care practices to keep children safe from overeating and self harm. Knowledge of these care practices could lead to effective interventions. Narrative inquiry was used to study everyday experience with Canadian mothers. Participants cared for a child 3 to 17 years old who had hyperphagia. Participants were interviewed 8 to 12 times each over the course of a year. Narrative accounts were co-composed through a collaborative process of analysis. Engaging with participants’ everyday experiences amplified complex care needs for families and gaps in health and social care systems. Narrative threads focused on engaging in (extra)ordinary care practices, rigid care work to keep children healthy and safe, tension from others while enacting these care practices, and difficulty conforming to social expectations with childrearing and care work. Recommendations for practice and policy include (a) shifting from untenable care practices, (b) reconceptualizing care work, and (c) alternative care models.