Kids, Families and Places: The impact of neighbourhood, family and child care on children’s development

Principal Investogators :

Michael Boyle PhD, Jennifer Jenkins PhD CPsych

Co-Investigators:

Janet Astington, Cathy Barr, John Challis, Alison Fleming, Kathy Georgiades, Dan Keating, Gary Kramer, Chris Moore, Greg Moran, Tom O’Connor, Dave Pederson, Debra Pepler, Michal Perlman, Yvonne Racine, Jon Rasbash, Hildy Ross, Louis Schmidt

Introduction

Infants, children and adolescents who do not realize their full developmental potential have a lowered life quality and reduced life chances, and constitute a heavy burden of suffering.  For example, at least 1 in 5 children in Canada have one or more developmental or cognitive difficulties or physical health or mental health conditions.

The prevalence of these problems can vary by sex and is even higher in specific subgroups such as aboriginal and economically disadvantaged populations.  In addition, there is a marked lack of evidence about effective interventions to reduce the incidence, prevalence, and long-term effects of these conditions.

Understanding how early experiences shape a child’s development and what mediators, moderators and mechanisms are associated with good outcomes is essential if we are to improve the life quality and life opportunities of children and youth.

About the study

This study is examining the ways that biology and the environment affect the development of emotional well-being and social functioning in young children, particularly those from disadvantaged families.

Researchers are focusing on the influences of neighbourhood, family and different childcare settings with the goal of identifying the biological and behavioural characteristics of children that affect how they react to these environments.  This is the first ever study examining children’s development in a nested, multilevel framework, going from the biology of the individual to the neighbourhoods and schools in which they grow up.

Who is participating?

More than 1,400 families in Toronto and Hamilton are participating.  All have at least two children, one of whom is a newborn.  The children and families will be followed until the newborn reaches school age.

A high proportion of the families are low-income or lone-parent, mother-led families in keeping with the study’s goal of understanding how children from different at-risk groups are affected.

What are the researchers looking at?

The children will be observed on their own and in interaction with parents, siblings, caregivers and peers.  Neighborhood factors, such as the availability of resources for children and families, and the safety of the community, will also be examined.

The researchers will attempt to pinpoint the relative effects of these variables on child health and development, as well as some of the neighbourhood and family processes that may foster or damage healthy development.

Who is funding the study?

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has provided funding of more than $2 million over five years as part of its initiative to fuel new research that will improve the developmental outcomes of Canadian infants, children and adolescents.

About the lead investigators

Michael Boyle, a member of the Offord Centre for Child Studies, isa Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences and an Associate Member in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics at McMaster University.  Dr. Boyle holds a Canada Research Chair in the Social Determinants of Child Health, and is a lead investigator in the ongoing Ontario Child Health Study initiated in 1983 by Dr. Dan Offord, founding director of the Offord Centre for Child Studies.

Jennifer Jenkins is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto.  Her research focuses on the effects of stress and family interaction on the social and emotional development of children.

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