Does center-based childcare play a role in preventing child maltreatment? Evidence from a one-year follow-up study

Abstract

Given the increased reports of child maltreatment across Japan, center-based childcare is expected to become more involved in parenting support. The purpose of this study is to clarify the role of center-based childcare in the prevention of maltreatment. This longitudinal project examined parents who used center-based childcare and those who did not over a period of one year. Participants were 3,723 parents who used governmentally authorized childcare centers across Japan and 222 parents who used home care. Indicators of parenting behavior and family background were obtained from a questionnaire completed by parents responsible for the children. Parenting behavior was obtained by a scale based on the Home Observation for Measurement of Environment (HOME). The results suggest that using center-based childcare significantly reduced the risk of child maltreatment. In the center-based care group, 25.7% of parents exhibited positive changes-namely, they engaged in punishment less-but only 11.7% of parents in the home care group did so. Thus, many more caregivers who used center-based care showed positive changes in maltreatment-related behavior. This indicates that center-based childcare would be an adequate early support measure for preventing child maltreatment.