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Parental locus of control and early childhood development: Evidence on parent and grandparent caregivers in rural China

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  • Bai, Yu
  • Emmers, Dorien
  • Li, Ying
  • Tang, Lei

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between caregivers' internal or external parental locus of control (PLOC) orientation and child development outcomes. We surveyed 995 children under age 3 and their primary caregivers in a rural study site in Western China. The empirical results show that a more internal PLOC orientation is reflected in higher levels of intergenerational investment in a stimulating home environment and improved child development outcomes. Grandparent caregivers have, on average, a more external PLOC orientation than do parent caregivers, which is associated with reduced engagement in interactive caregiver-child activities. This study provides evidence that PLOC orientation plays an important role in intergenerational human capital investment and early child development in non-Western, low-to-middle income settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Bai, Yu & Emmers, Dorien & Li, Ying & Tang, Lei, 2022. "Parental locus of control and early childhood development: Evidence on parent and grandparent caregivers in rural China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:74:y:2022:i:c:s1043951x22000724
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2022.101814
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    2. Li, Ying & Tang, Xiaoqing & Yang, Hualei & Liu, Yixiao, 2023. "Parental marriage and the non-cognitive abilities of infants and toddlers: Survey findings from China Family Panel Studies," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Parental locus of control; Parental investment; Early childhood development; Intergenerational investment; Rural China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I26 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Returns to Education
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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