The First 2,000 Days and Child Skills

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Doyle, Orla
• 署名单位: University College Dublin
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/705707
• 发表日期: 2020
• 页码: 2067-2122
• 关键词: EARLY HEAD-START; RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIALS; NURSE HOME VISITATION; early intervention; REGRESSION-COEFFICIENTS; cognitive-development; Parenting Style; Life-course; program; FAMILY

摘要

Using a randomized experiment, this study investigates the impact of sustained investment in parenting, from pregnancy until age 5, in the context of extensive welfare provision. Providing the Preparing for Life program, incorporating home visiting, group parenting, and baby massage, to disadvantaged Irish families raised children's cognitive and socioemotional/behavioral scores by two-thirds and one-quarter of a standard deviation, respectively. There were few differential effects by gender and stronger gains for firstborns and lower-resource households. The program also narrowed the socioeconomic gap in children's skills. Analyses account for small sample size, differential attrition, multiple testing, contamination, and performance bias.