Understanding the Early Years An Update of Early Childhood Development Results in Four Canadian Communities - July 2005
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VI. Early Childhood Development in Southwestern Newfoundland
This chapter describes the results for Southwestern Newfoundland for five sets of measures. As in the previous three chapters, the first two sets of results describe the demographic characteristics, family processes, and community factors, based on data collected in 2000 and 2004, and using the measures described in Chapter II. These findings are followed with a presentation of results pertaining to early childhood outcomes, based on the direct assessments and the indirect assessments by parents and teachers. For each analysis, the results for 2000 and 2004 are compared, and changes that are statistically significant are indicated with an arrow pointing upward for positive changes, and a downward-pointing arrow for negative changes. For the three sets of outcome measures, the results are also compared to national norms. Results that differ significantly from national norms are indicated with bold text.
A. Demographic characteristics
| Table 6-1 Demographic Characteristics for the Southwest Newfoundland community |
|||
|
SW
Newfoundland |
|
SW
Newfoundland |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
UEY 2000
|
UEY 2004
|
||
| Family Income (x $1,000) (Ns = 289, 227) |
34.9
|
↑
|
44.8
|
| Mother’s Education (years) (Ns = 282, 224) |
11.5
|
↑
|
12.4
|
| Father’s Education (years) (Ns = 208, 153) |
11.0
|
↑
|
12.1
|
| Mother Not Working Outside the Home (%) (Ns = 280, 223) |
60.4
|
|
55.6
|
| Father Not Working Outside the Home (%) (Ns = 212, 149) |
39.6
|
|
35.6
|
| Single Parent Family (%) (Ns = 289, 227) |
27.7
|
|
31.3
|
| Number of Siblings (Ns = 289, 227) |
0.9
|
↑
|
1.0
|
| Aboriginal Status (%) (Ns = 287, 205) |
2.4
|
↑
|
14.6
|
Note: Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004.
Table 6-1 displays the demographic characteristics for Southwestern Newfoundland for 2000 and 2004. Average family income increased substantially during that period, with the average income of the 2004 sample at $44,800, compared with $34,900 for the 2000 sample. Levels of parental education also rose significantly, increasing from 11.5 to 12.4 years for mother’s education, and from 11.0 to 12.1 years for father’s education. The percentage of mothers who were not working outside the home decreased from 60.4% to 55.6%, while the percentage of fathers not working outside the home declined from 39.6% to 35.6%, although these changes were not statistically significant. The percentage of children living in single parent families increased from 27.7% to 31.3%. The 2004 sample included a considerably higher percentage of Aboriginal children – 14.6% compared with 2.4% in 2000.
B. Family and community factors
The 2004 results for Southwest Newfoundland showed significant improvement in five areas. Parents were more engaged with their children, with scores rising from 8.9 to 9.2, while their use of resources also increased, from 2.7 to 4.1. Levels of Social Support increased from 7.3 to 7.8. The score for neighbourhood social capital and neighbourhood safety also increased, from 6.8 to 7.1, and from 7.0 to 7.4 respectively. Scores declined in only one area, demanding parenting, which declined from 7.5 to 7.3.
| Table 6-2 Family and Community Characteristics for the Southwest Newfoundland community |
|||
|
SW
|
|
SW
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Newfoundland
|
Newfoundland
|
||
|
UEY 2000
|
UEY 2004
|
||
|
Score on
10-Point Scale |
Score on
10-Point Scale |
||
| Responsive Parenting (Ns = 279, 223) |
7.8
|
7.7
|
|
| Demanding Parenting (Ns = 279, 223) |
7.7
|
↓
|
7.5
|
| Family Functioning (Ns = 288, 224) |
7.2
|
|
7.3
|
| Mother’s Mental Health (Ns = 287, 222) |
8.9
|
8.8
|
|
| Parental Engagement (Ns = 287, 227) |
8.9
|
↑
|
9.2
|
| Use of Resources (Ns = 278, 227) |
2.7
|
↑
|
4.1
|
| Social Support (Ns = 288, 222) |
7.3
|
↑
|
7.8
|
| Neighbourhood Social Capital (Ns = 288, 225) |
6.8
|
↑
|
7.1
|
| Safe neighbourhood (Ns = 288, 225) |
7.0
|
↑
|
7.4
|
| Quality neighbourhood (Ns = 288, 225) |
6.4
|
|
6.4
|
Note: Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004.
The average scores in Receptive Vocabulary and the Who Am I developmental assessment did not change significantly between 2000 and 2004. The scores on Receptive Vocabulary are consistent with national norms, while scores on the Who Am I Developmental Assessment are 5 points above the national norm.
C. Direct assessments of children’s outcomes
| Table 6-3 Mean Scores on the PPVT and Who Am I for the SW Newfoundland Community |
|||||
|
SW
Newfoundland UEY 2000 |
SW
Newfoundland UEY 2004 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Mean
|
SD
|
||
| PPVT (Receptive Vocabulary) (Ns = 284, 209) |
103.0
|
16.3
|
100.8
|
14.6
|
|
| Who Am I Developmental Assessment (Ns = 243, 180) |
104.4
|
15.1
|
105.0
|
14.5
|
|
Note: Figures in bold text differ significantly (p < .10) from the Canadian mean of 100.
Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004.
The average scores in Receptive Vocabulary and the Who Am I developmental assessment did not change significantly between 2000 and 2004. The scores on Receptive Vocabulary are consistent with national norms, while scores on the Who Am I Developmental Assessment are 5 points above the national norm.
D. Parents’ assessments of children’s behavioural outcomes
The average score on Positive Behaviour also did not change significantly from 2000 to 2004. The average was 101.1 in 2004, which is consistent with national norms.
Table 6-4
Mean Scores on Positive Behaviour for the SW Newfoundland Community
|
SW Newfoundland UEY 2000
|
|
SW Newfoundland UEY 2004
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Mean
|
SD
|
||
| Positive Behaviour (Ns = 287, 227) |
102.3
|
13.5
|
101.1
|
13.9
|
|
| Note: Figures in bold text differ significantly (p < .10) from the Canadian mean of 100. Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004. | |||||
The prevalence of children classified as hyperactive is below national norms, as is the prevalence of children displaying significant indirect aggression. The prevalence of children with anxiety/emotional problems increased from 3.8% in 2000 to 7.9% in 2004. Similar results are evident for aggression and conduct disorders.
| Table 6-5 Prevalence of Children with Behaviour Problems in SW Newfoundland |
|||
|
SW
Newfoundland |
SW
Newfoundland |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
UEY 2000
|
UEY 2004
|
||
|
Percent
|
Percent
|
||
| Hyperactivity/Inattention (Ns = 286, 224) |
7.7
|
5.8
|
|
| Anxiety/Emotional Problems (Ns = 287, 227) |
3.8
|
↑
|
7.9
|
| Aggression/Conduct Disorder (Ns = 286, 224) |
4.9
|
↑
|
9.4
|
| Indirect Aggression (Ns = 287, 220) |
6.3
|
|
7.7
|
Note: Figures in bold text differ significantly (p < .10) from the Canadian mean of 10 percent.
Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004.
E. Teachers’ assessments of children’s early development
Scores on the Early Development Instrument increased significantly in three of the five domains: Physical Health and Well-being, Emotional Health and Maturity, and Language and Cognitive Development. The children in this community were rated above national norms in all categories except social knowledge and competence.
| Table 6-6 Mean Scores on the Early Development Instrument for the SW Newfoundland Community and the Comparison Sample |
|||||||
|
Canada
|
SW
Newfoundland |
|
SW
Newfoundland |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
UEY 2000
|
UEY 2004
|
|||||
|
(N = 28,250)
|
(N = 258)
|
(N = 186)
|
|||||
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Mean
|
SD
|
Mean
|
SD
|
||
| Physical Health and Well-being |
8.6
|
1.1
|
8.9
|
1.2
|
↑
|
9.2
|
0.9
|
| Social Knowledge and Competence |
7.5
|
1.5
|
8.2
|
1.9
|
|
8.3
|
1.8
|
| Emotional Health and Maturity |
7.9
|
1.5
|
7.6
|
1.5
|
↑
|
7.9
|
1.5
|
| Language and Cognitive Development |
8.1
|
1.9
|
8.4
|
2.0
|
↑
|
8.8
|
1.8
|
| Communication Skills and General Knowledge |
7.2
|
2.1
|
8.2
|
1.9
|
|
8.2
|
1.9
|
Note: Figures in bold text differ significantly (p < .10) from the Canadian mean.
Arrows indicate a statistically significant increase or decrease from 2000 to 2004.
F. Summary of Findings for Southwest Newfoundland
The findings suggest that early childhood development outcomes in Southwestern
Newfoundland are average to above average compared with national norms. The prevalence of children with Anxiety and Emotional Problems, and Aggression and Conduct Disorders increased from 2000 to 2004. However, these findings are inconsistent with teachers’ ratings of children’s Emotional Health and Maturity, which improved over that period. The community also showed significant improvements in family processes and community factors. The average levels of income and parents’ education also increased during the study period, and generally, given the relatively low levels of income and education compared with national norms, the children in this community are doing exceptionally well.
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