Socio-emotional behavior at 18 months as a function of daycare experience,temperament, and gender

From a longitudinal study of women and their first-born children, four types of daycare experience were identified. For three of the groups, the woman returned to full-time employment, and a relative, baby-sitter, or nursery provided daycare. In the fourth group, the women did not return to employment. Data on the children's socio-emotional behavior at 18 months were collected from interview, questionnaire items, and direct observation during a home visit. Results indicated several associations among type of day care, difficulty of temperament, and child socio-emotional development.