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Dissertation (Youngmin Cho).pdf (1.43 MB)

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THE EFFECT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS: THE ROLE OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS

Cho, Youngmin
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1491483214205903

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Social Welfare.
Purpose and background: The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between early childhood residential mobility and kindergarten readiness, and whether the relationship is mediated or moderated by prekindergarten programs in an urban school district. This study addressed policy concerns on kindergarten readiness of residentially mobile children who often experience unstable housing situations as well as limited educational opportunities. It is based on two theoretical models. First, the bioecological theory posits that frequent moves may result in instability in the central context for child development. Second, the family stress model suggests that moving can serve as a source of parental stress that may negatively affect family functioning and child adjustment. Method: A non-experimental, longitudinal design was used to address the research objectives. This study used a unique integrated data system that links individual-level administrative records and provides monthly address histories as well as child and family characteristics such as demographics, birth outcomes, education, socioeconomic status, and risk factors. I conducted a series of multiple regression and causal mediation analyses to examine the relationships among residential mobility, prekindergarten attendance, and kindergarten readiness. Additional sensitivity analyses were performed to check the robustness of the findings across different cut-off points for residential mobility and prekindergarten attendance. Results: The study demonstrated that there was a significant relationship between early childhood residential mobility and children’s kindergarten readiness scores, and this relationship was significantly mediated by prekindergarten programs. There was no significant interaction effect between early childhood residential mobility and prekindergarten attendance. The sensitivity analysis largely confirmed that these findings were not highly sensitive to different cut-off points for the predictor and mediator variables. Discussion: These findings suggest that policymakers, researchers, and practitioners need to pay close attention to residentially mobile young children who are likely to have reduced learning opportunities and, therefore, fall behind in their cognitive development. Collaborative local efforts guided by the integrated data system may play an important role in preventing the detrimental effects of frequent moves on early child development.
Claudia Coulton (Committee Chair)
David Crampton (Committee Member)
Francisca Richter (Committee Member)
Jill Korbin (Committee Member)
126 p.
Social Work
Residential Mobility; Prekindergarten Programs; Kindergarten Readiness

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Citations

  • Cho, Y. (2017). THE EFFECT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS: THE ROLE OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1491483214205903

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Cho, Youngmin. THE EFFECT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS: THE ROLE OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS . 2017. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1491483214205903.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Cho, Youngmin. "THE EFFECT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD RESIDENTIAL MOBILITY ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS: THE ROLE OF PREKINDERGARTEN PROGRAMS ." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1491483214205903

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1491483214205903
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.