From home to child care: the impact of family conflict on toddler child care experiences

The impact of family and marital conflict on the adjustment and social competence of toddlers in child care was investigated through a multi-method, multi-respondent study. Sixty-eight children between 14 and 37 months, along with their parents and early childhood teachers, participated in teacher-toddler attachment observations, toddler behavior assessments, family demographic and conflict questionnaires, and toddler temperament assessments. Toddlers from families high in marital conflict were more likely to display problems with withdrawn or depressed behaviors as well as lower competence in interactive social play. Toddlers with more secure attachments to teachers were more likely to display social competence in the early childhood classroom. Gender and temperament served as protective factors buffering the negative effect of marital conflict on adjustment; specifically, girls and children with more shy or less persistently attentive temperaments were less likely to display depressed or withdrawn behavior.