K.Kiernan University of York

What matters for well-being in early childhood? Evidence from the Millennium Cohort Study

Kathleen Kiernan

University of York

K.Kiernan University of York

The Early Years Matter

• Neurons to Neighbourhoods –concluded”“ virtually every aspect of human development, from

the brains evolving circuitry to the child’s capacity for empathy, is affected by the environment and experiences that are encountered in a cumulative fashion, beginning in the pre-natal period and extending throughout the early childhood years”

US National Academy of Sciences 2000

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Millennium Cohort Study

• Initially 18553 Families 18819 Children– Born in 2001-2– Families interviewed when baby 9 months old and ages 3,

5 and 7 years

• Over-representation– Children in disadvantaged areas– Ethnic minority communities– Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

• Linkage to hospital and school records

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Cognitive and Behaviour Children’s outcomes at age 5

Learning and development (Foundation stage profile – QCA 2003) - Communication, language and literacy (CLL)

- Mathematical development- Personal, social and emotional development- Knowledge and understanding of the world- Physical development- Creative development

Behaviour – total difficulties score - (SDQ – Goodman 1997)- Emotional symptoms- Conduct problems- Hyperactivity- Peer problems

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Focal Factors

History of Poverty

History of Maternal Depression

Parenting at age 3 (Mediator)

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Income povertyHistory of income poverty1 %

None reported 61

At 9 months or age 3 (Early) 13

At age 5 (Current) 12

At 9 months, age 3 and age 5 (Persistent)

14

1less than 60 percent of the median for the UK

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Odds (ratios) of being in lowest decile of the CLL assessment

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1.4

1.7

2.2

2.5

3.2

5.6

0 2 4 6

Earlier Poverty

Current Poverty

Persistent Poverty

Unadjusted

Adjusted

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Other factors taken into account • Child attributes

– Gender and age – Birth Order (first versus later born)– Number of siblings – Ethnicity– Low birth weight– Breast fed

• Mother’s attributes– Age at first birth– Educational Qualifications of Mother– Locus of control– Smoked during pregnancy

• Family attributes– Family history– Work History – Housing Tenure– Index of Multiple Deprivation – Language spoken in the home

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Odds (ratios) of having high levels of behaviour problems at age 5

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1.2

1.2

1.3

2.3

2.6

4.4

0 2 4 6

Earlier Poverty

Current Poverty

Persistent Poverty

Unadjusted

Adjusted

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Maternal depression and anxiety

History of maternal depression and anxiety1

%

None reported 70

At 9 months or age 3 (Prior) 14

At age 5 (Current) 12

At 9 months, age 3 and age 5 3

1Assessed using Malaise scale at 9 months and Kessler scale at 3 and 5 years

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Odds (ratios) of being in lowest decile of CLL Assessment

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1.3

1.4

2.1

1.7

1.9

3.5

0 2 4

Earlier Depression

Current Depression

Persistent Depression

Unadjusted

Adjusted

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Odds (ratios)of having high levels of behaviour problems at age 5

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2.8

5.5

7.4

3.5

6.8

11.6

0 5 10 15

Earlier Depression

Current Depression

Persistent Depression

Unadjusted

Adjusted

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Findings on Poverty and Depression

• Poverty matters for children’s cognitive development but less so for behaviour problems

• Maternal Depression matters notably so for behaviour problems but also for children’s cognitive development

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Parenting matters

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Parenting measures (at Age 3)

• Parental warmth and Parental Conflict

• Positive and negative discipline

• Irregular Meal times and Bedtimes

• Frequency of reading to the child

• Home Learning Environment

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Parenting and Child Outcomes Odds Ratios

CLL SDQ

Warmth - Low 2.9 3.2

Conflict - High 1.9 9.7

Irregular Mealtimes 2.5 3.3

Rarely reads 3.9 3.2

Smacks frequently 1.3 ns 3.0

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School Performance – Percentage performing at a good level

No Poverty and Positive Parenting 73%No Poverty and Poor Parenting 42%No Poverty (Total) 60%

Persistent Poverty and Positive Parenting 58%Persistent Poverty and Poor Parenting 19%Persistent Poverty (Total) 26%

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Take away messages for the life chances of children

• Poverty matters• Maternal Mental Health Matters• Parenting MattersPoverty and Parenting have risen up the policy

agenda whereas maternal health has received less attention.

• A distance to go in reducing the gaps and gradients in the early years

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