National insights into the stress and well-being of Early Head Start families before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Early Head Start (EHS) is a program designed to address the unique needs of low-income families. However, little is known about how the stress and well-being of EHS families has changed pre- and post-COVID-19. This information is vital for supporting families and addressing their changing needs. To fill this gap, we used data from the Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences Survey (Baby FACES), which are nationally representative samples of children and families served by EHS in 2018 (n = 2,826) and 2022 (n = 1,477). Using these two cohorts of cross-sectional data, we examined how families’ experiences with stress and well-being differed in the cohorts pre- and post-pandemic and across different demographic and household characteristics. Results from covariate-adjusted regression analyses revealed that EHS families in the 2022 cohort reported less social support, more depressive symptoms, and increased parenting stress, but fewer financial strains compared with families in the 2018 cohort. These findings varied consistently by race/ethnicity and primary home language. Hispanic families and those whose primary language was something other than English at home fared better than White and English-only families post pandemic. Overall, this study provides insight into the changing stress and well-being of EHS families over time, which is critical for ensuring families from vulnerable communities are receiving adequate resources to meet their needs.