DOI: 10.3886/icpsr21940.v6
title: NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development: Phase I, 1991-1994 [United States]
title: Version 6

description: The overall purpose of this study was to examine the influence of variations in early childcare histories on the psychological development of infants and toddlers from a variety of family backgrounds. This general objective was addressed through a prospective, longitudinal study of the experiences of 1,364 children and their families, which took into account the complex interactions among child characteristics and those of the human and physical environments in which the children were reared. Research Goals The specific research aims were as follows: Examining the relationship between infants' childcare arrangements (defined in terms of hours, type, quality, and stability of care and the age at which the child entered care) and children's concurrent and long-term development. Specifically, the study investigated the association between children's experiences in childcare and their social, emotional, language, and cognitive development. The social-emotional assessments included measures of attachment, independence, compliance, behavior problems, prosocial and antisocial behavior, and general competence in interacting with peers. Cognitive variables include general developmental level and problem solving skills. Language assessments incorporated measures of children's expressive and receptive communicative competence. Examining whether the social ecology of the home moderates the effects of childcare, i.e., whether children from different home environments are differentially affected by similar childcare experiences. The study examined the moderating effects of parents' values and attitudes, psychological adjustment and mental health, stress and social support, child-rearing practices, time use, interactions with the child, the marital relationship, and family demographics. Examining whether individual differences among children moderate the effects of infant care on child development. The study examined the moderating effects of such child characteristics as age, sex, health, birth order, and temperament. Identify demographic and family characteristics associated with families' childcare decisions. The study examined whether specific childcare arrangements are related to the parents' social class, marital status, psychological adjustment and personality, child-rearing values and attitudes, parenting practices, stress, social support, marital relationship, and the availability of childcare in the community. Provide a natural history of infant care in the 1990s, and help establish a baseline of data pertaining to the kinds of care being used by families. Whereas other national databases, such as those provided by the United States Census Bureau, provide static estimates of the number of children in different types of childcare, this network study supplements that knowledge with longitudinal data on successive enrollments into day care at various ages, patterns of arrangements used concurrently and over time, and the stability of arrangements during the first three years of life. One of the most valuable aspects of the collaborative study is the opportunity it provides to obtain a more complete and accurate picture of patterns of infant care used by families today. Census surveys use only gross categories of care (e.g., center vs. in-home). In this study, more fine-grained information regarding the types of centers and home-care facilities was gathered. Examine the consequences for families of maternal employment and childcare choices. Family relationships, parental mental health, family stress, and so on, are not just inputs to child development or moderators of childcare effects, they are also outcomes. High-quality childcare may alleviate family stress and enhance parental adjustment. Low-quality childcare may add to the stress parents experience. Although the main focus in the study was on the effect of childcare on the child, the study also examined the effect of childcare on the family. Identify demographic characteristics of childcare associated with childcare quality. Of interest to policy makers is another aspect of the study, the investigation of those regulatory characteristics that predict care of higher quality. These characteristics included the level and type of caregiver training, the size of the childcare group, the auspices of the childcare program (public/private, profit/nonprofit, independent/chain, employer-sponsored/church-based), whether the facility was licensed or unlicensed, the level of payment and fees, and whether the caregiver was a relative of the family. Data File Organization 309 data files were compiled for this study and are organized into 3 main groups: Analytical Data Sets (ADS) -- The raw data were examined and composites defined by small groups of individual principal investigators according to the demographic, family, childcare, and child outcome content of the data. The psychometric and distributional qualities of the variables, along with site differences, were examined. A set of variables that were psychometrically and distributionally acceptable to be used in analytic analyses was designed to test the study hypotheses. These data files comprise Parts 1-42 of the study data material. Supplemental Data Sets -- New and revised analysis variables as well as across-time mean scores and primary composites were produced as a supplement to the original Analytical Datasets. These data files comprise Parts 43-55 of the study data material. Raw Data Sets -- The raw data were made available and comprise Parts 56-309 of the study data material. Training Workshop A three-day summer training workshop on the SECCYD was put on by NICHD at the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2010. The binder from that workshop, which includes the Powerpoint slides used during presentations, are freely available to the public as part of the study documentation.
description: To examine the influence of variations in early childcare histories on the psychological development of infants and toddlers from a variety of family backgrounds.
description: The SECCYD is a multi-site, prospective, longitudinal study of the experiences of 1,364 children and their families. Respondents were sampled from a catchment of some 6,189 children. Children's development was assessed via trained observers, interviewers, questionnaires, and direct testing. Measures were taken on many facets of children's development, such as social, emotional, intellectual, as well as language development, behavioral problems and adjustment, and physical health. Beginning with the time of enrollment, families were scheduled for extensive periodic data collections. Data from 10 sites were collected at 5 major assessment points: 1 month (enrollment), 6 months, 15 months, 24 months, and 36 months. Month 1 enrollment data were collected in a visit to the children's homes. At six months, data were collected in the children's homes and at the children's primary childcare arrangements. At 15, 24, and 36 months, data were collected in the children's homes, childcare arrangements, and in the laboratory. Phone call data were collected every three months between major assessments.
description: The 42 Analytical Data Sets (ADS) contain composite variables created, from the raw data by Quantitative Systems Laboratory (QSL) at Vanderbilt University, to be psychometrically and distributionally acceptable for analytical analysis of the study hypotheses. The 13 Supplemental Data Sets were produced by Research Triangle Institute (RTI) and contain new and revised analysis variables, across-time mean scores, and primary composites. The 254 Raw Data Sets contain the direct item-level data collected per instrument.
description: Presence of Common Scales: Bayley Scale of Infant Development Adaptive Social Behavior Inventor -- Child Child Behavior Checklist -- Child MacArthur Communicative Inventory Adaptive Social Behavior Inventory -- Mother Child Behavior Checklist -- Mother Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test Reynell Developmental Language Bracken Basic Concept Scale
description: Participants were selected in accordance with a conditionally random sampling plan, designed to ensure that the recruited families (a) included mothers who planned to work or to go to school full-time (60 percent) or part-time (20 percent) in the child's first year, as well as some who planned to stay at home with the child (20 percent), and (b) reflected the demographic diversity (economic, educational, and ethnic) of the sites. Both two-parent and single-parent families were included. The major exclusionary criteria used were (a) mothers younger than 18 years of age at the time of the child's birth, (b) families who did not anticipate remaining in the catchment area for at least 3 years, (c) children with obvious disabilities at birth or who remained in the hospital more than 7 days postpartum, and (d) mothers not sufficiently conversant in English. Analyses have indicated that the data do reflect the natural distributions of these factors in the catchment. Therefore, inferences from this data can be made directly to the catchment without back-weighting for the sampling factors. In addition, analyses have shown that the NICHD data reflect to large degree the natural distributions of certain factors measured in the 1990 Census data. However, the NICHD data are not representative in the statistical sense, and therefore inference to the nation as a whole is not possible. Comparisons to other databases, national or otherwise, should be made with extreme caution.
description: Datasets: DS0: Study-Level Files DS1: ADS-CARGIV15 DS2: ADS-CARGIV24 DS3: ADS-CARGIV36 DS4: ADS-CARGIV6 DS5: ADS-CCARE1 DS6: ADS-CCARE15 DS7: ADS-CCARE24 DS8: ADS-CCARE36 DS9: ADS-CCARE6 DS10: ADS-COUT1 DS11: ADS-COUT15 DS12: ADS-COUT24 DS13: ADS-COUT36 DS14: ADS-COUT6 DS15: ADS-DEMO0 DS16: ADS-DEMO1 DS17: ADS-DEMO15 DS18: ADS-DEMO24 DS19: ADS-DEMO36 DS20: ADS-DEMO6 DS21: ADS-DROPS DS22: ADS-FAM1 DS23: ADS-FAM15 DS24: ADS-FAM24 DS25: ADS-FAM36 DS26: ADS-FAM6 DS27: ADS-FCGIV06 DS28: ADS-FCGIV15 DS29: ADS-FCGIV24 DS30: ADS-FCGIV36 DS31: ADS-FLAGS DS32: ADS-HHS DS33: ADS-LONG DS34: ADS-PHON12 DS35: ADS-PHON18 DS36: ADS-PHON21 DS37: ADS-PHON27 DS38: ADS-PHON3 DS39: ADS-PHON30 DS40: ADS-PHON33 DS41: ADS-PHON9 DS42: ADS-TIME7 DS43: Supplemental-BEHSC636 DS44: Supplemental-CC_CG01 DS45: Supplemental-CC_CG06 DS46: Supplemental-CC_CG15 DS47: Supplemental-CC_CG24 DS48: Supplemental-CC_CG36 DS49: Supplemental-CLNUP24 DS50: Supplemental-CLNUP36 DS51: Supplemental-COMBINE3 DS52: Supplemental-FCI06 DS53: Supplemental-FCI36 DS54: Supplemental-HLTFU36 DS55: Supplemental-MAMED36 DS56: RAW-DROPS DS57: RAW-F01A1BQ DS58: RAW-F01C DS59: RAW-F02A DS60: RAW-F02B DS61: RAW-F02C DS62: RAW-F02D DS63: RAW-F02E DS64: RAW-F02F DS65: RAW-F03A DS66: RAW-F03B DS67: RAW-F03C DS68: RAW-F03D DS69: RAW-F03D36 DS70: RAW-F03E DS71: RAW-F03E36 DS72: RAW-F03F DS73: RAW-F03G DS74: RAW-F03H DS75: RAW-F03I DS76: RAW-F03I36 DS77: RAW-F03J DS78: RAW-F04A03 DS79: RAW-F04A09 DS80: RAW-F04A12 DS81: RAW-F05A DS82: RAW-F05B DS83: RAW-F06A DS84: RAW-F06B DS85: RAW-F06C DS86: RAW-F06D DS87: RAW-F06E DS88: RAW-F06F DS89: RAW-F06G DS90: RAW-F06H DS91: RAW-F06I DS92: RAW-F06J DS93: RAW-F06K DS94: RAW-F06L DS95: RAW-F06O DS96: RAW-F06P DS97: RAW-F06Q DS98: RAW-F07A DS99: RAW-F07B DS100: RAW-F07C DS101: RAW-F07D DS102: RAW-F07E DS103: RAW-F07F DS104: RAW-F07G DS105: RAW-F07H DS106: RAW-F07HQL DS107: RAW-F07J DS108: RAW-F07K DS109: RAW-F07Q DS110: RAW-F07R DS111: RAW-F07S DS112: RAW-F07U DS113: RAW-F08A DS114: RAW-F08B DS115: RAW-F08C DS116: RAW-F08D DS117: RAW-F08E DS118: RAW-F08F DS119: RAW-F08G DS120: RAW-F09A DS121: RAW-F09ASUM DS122: RAW-F10A13 DS123: RAW-F10A23 DS124: RAW-F10A34 DS125: RAW-F10B13 DS126: RAW-F10B23 DS127: RAW-F10B34 DS128: RAW-F11A15 DS129: RAW-F11A24 DS130: RAW-F11A36 DS131: RAW-F11B15 DS132: RAW-F11B24 DS133: RAW-F11C15 DS134: RAW-F11C24 DS135: RAW-F11D15 DS136: RAW-F11D24 DS137: RAW-F11D36 DS138: RAW-F11E15 DS139: RAW-F11E24 DS140: RAW-F11E36 DS141: RAW-F11F15 DS142: RAW-F11F24 DS143: RAW-F11F36 DS144: RAW-F11G15 DS145: RAW-F11G24 DS146: RAW-F11H15 DS147: RAW-F11H15QL DS148: RAW-F11I15 DS149: RAW-F11I24 DS150: RAW-F11I36 DS151: RAW-F11J15 DS152: RAW-F11J24 DS153: RAW-F11J36 DS154: RAW-F11K15 DS155: RAW-F11K24 DS156: RAW-F11K36 DS157: RAW-F11Q15 DS158: RAW-F11R15 DS159: RAW-F11S15 DS160: RAW-F11T15 DS161: RAW-F11T24 DS162: RAW-F11T36 DS163: RAW-F11U15 DS164: RAW-F11U24 DS165: RAW-F11U36 DS166: RAW-F11W15 DS167: RAW-F11W24 DS168: RAW-F11W36 DS169: RAW-F11X15 DS170: RAW-F11X24 DS171: RAW-F12A15 DS172: RAW-F12A24 DS173: RAW-F12A36 DS174: RAW-F12B15 DS175: RAW-F12B24 DS176: RAW-F12B36 DS177: RAW-F12C15 DS178: RAW-F12C24 DS179: RAW-F12C36 DS180: RAW-F12D15 DS181: RAW-F12D24 DS182: RAW-F12D36 DS183: RAW-F12E15 DS184: RAW-F12E24 DS185: RAW-F12E36 DS186: RAW-F12F15 DS187: RAW-F12F24 DS188: RAW-F12F36 DS189: RAW-F12G15 DS190: RAW-F12G24 DS191: RAW-F12G36 DS192: RAW-F12J24 DS193: RAW-F12J36 DS194: RAW-F12K15 DS195: RAW-F12K24 DS196: RAW-F12K24V1 DS197: RAW-F12L36 DS198: RAW-F12M24 DS199: RAW-F12M36 DS200: RAW-F12N36 DS201: RAW-F12O36 DS202: RAW-F12P24 DS203: RAW-F14B15SM DS204: RAW-F14B24SM DS205: RAW-F14B36 DS206: RAW-F14C15 DS207: RAW-F14C24 DS208: RAW-F14C36 DS209: RAW-F14E15 DS210: RAW-F14E36 DS211: RAW-F14G15 DS212: RAW-F14I15 DS213: RAW-F15A15 DS214: RAW-F15A24 DS215: RAW-F15A36 DS216: RAW-F15B15 DS217: RAW-F15B24 DS218: RAW-F15B36 DS219: RAW-F15D15 DS220: RAW-F15D24 DS221: RAW-F15D36 DS222: RAW-F15E15 DS223: RAW-F15E24 DS224: RAW-F15F15 DS225: RAW-F15F24 DS226: RAW-F15F36 DS227: RAW-F15G15 DS228: RAW-F15G36 DS229: RAW-F15H15 DS230: RAW-F15H24 DS231: RAW-F15H36 DS232: RAW-F15I06 DS233: RAW-F15I15 DS234: RAW-F15I24 DS235: RAW-F15I36 DS236: RAW-F15J15 DS237: RAW-F15J24 DS238: RAW-F15K15 DS239: RAW-F15K24 DS240: RAW-F15L15E DS241: RAW-F15L15H DS242: RAW-F15M15 DS243: RAW-F15M24 DS244: RAW-F15P15 DS245: RAW-F15Q15 DS246: RAW-F15Q24 DS247: RAW-F15Q36 DS248: RAW-F15R15 DS249: RAW-F15R36 DS250: RAW-F15S15 DS251: RAW-F15V15 DS252: RAW-F15X15 DS253: RAW-F18A18 DS254: RAW-F18A21 DS255: RAW-F18A27 DS256: RAW-F18A30 DS257: RAW-F18A33 DS258: RAW-F19J24 DS259: RAW-F19J36 DS260: RAW-F19M24 DS261: RAW-F19M36 DS262: RAW-F24C24 DS263: RAW-F24G24 DS264: RAW-F24G36 DS265: RAW-F24H24 DS266: RAW-F24H24QL DS267: RAW-F24H36 DS268: RAW-F24H36QL DS269: RAW-F24N24 DS270: RAW-F24P24 DS271: RAW-F24R24 DS272: RAW-F24S24 DS273: RAW-F24Y24 DS274: RAW-F25I24 DS275: RAW-F25P24 DS276: RAW-F25Q24 DS277: RAW-F26P24 DS278: RAW-F26P36 DS279: RAW-F36B36 DS280: RAW-F36C36 DS281: RAW-F36G36 DS282: RAW-F36N36 DS283: RAW-F36P36 DS284: RAW-F36Q36 DS285: RAW-F36R36 DS286: RAW-F36S36 DS287: RAW-F36T36 DS288: RAW-F36W36 DS289: RAW-F36X36 DS290: RAW-F37A36 DS291: RAW-F37C36 DS292: RAW-F37F36 DS293: RAW-F38C36 DS294: RAW-F38I36 DS295: RAW-F38P36 DS296: RAW-F38S36 DS297: RAW-F38V36 DS298: RAW-F38W36 DS299: RAW-F39C36 DS300: RAW-F39LJ36 DS301: RAW-F39P36 DS302: RAW-F39Q36 DS303: RAW-F39X36 DS304: RAW-HHS3A DS305: RAW-HHS3F DS306: RAW-HHS3H DS307: RAW-HHS3I DS308: RAW-HHS3J DS309: RAW-PREDROP
description: Full-term, healthy newborns of mothers giving birth in hospitals at 10 locations throughout the United States during designated 24-hour periods between January and November 1991.
description: computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI); computer-assisted self interview (CASI); computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI); coded on-site observation; cognitive assessment test; face-to-face interview; mail questionnaire; paper and pencil interview (PAPI); self-enumerated questionnaire; on-site questionnaire; telephone interviewData are available for the other phases of the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development (SECCYD) Series. See: SECCYD Phase II, 1995-1999 (ICPSR 21941), SECCYD Phase III, 2000-2004 (ICPSR 21942), and SECCYD Phase IV, 2005-2007 (ICPSR 22361).<strong>User Alert for Phase 1 Raw SAS Datasets for 24 and 36 Month Child Care Observations</strong> The variables ID and F24HOBCY have the same label stated as "CC Observation Cycle". The label for the variable ID should be "SITE/LOC/SUBJECT ID." This effects the following files: 21940\Data\Raw\SAS\da21940-0265_Raw-F24H24.stc 21940\Data\Raw\SAS\da21940-0266_Raw-F24H24QL.stc The variables ID and F36HOBCY have the same label stated as "CC Observation Cycle". The label for the variable ID should be "SITE/LOC/SUBJECT ID." This effects the following files: 21940\Data\Raw\SAS\da21940-0267_Raw-F24H36.stc 21940\Data\Raw\SAS\da21940-0268_Raw-F24H36QL.stcThe NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development was conducted by a network of investigators called the NICHD Early Child Care Research Network. The network was led and managed by a steering committee that included an independent chairperson, one representative from each of the grantee sites, one representative from the data center, and one representative from NICHD. The steering committee established policies and procedures that governed the operations of the network. The progress of the study was monitored by NICHD and by the steering committee with guidance from an advisory board which was nominated by the director of NICHD.