Adults’ Knowledge of Child Development in Alberta, Canada: Comparing the Level of Knowledge of Adults in Two Samples in 2007 and 2013

ABSTRACT

Parents and non-parental adults who interact with children influence child development. This study evaluates the knowledge of child development in two large and diverse samples of adults from Alberta in 2007 and 2013. Telephone interviews were completed by two random samples (1,443 in 2007; 1,451 in 2013). Participants were asked when specific milestones in physical, cognitive, emotional and social domains typically occur (age birth to six years). Data were analysed using univariate and multivariate techniques. Linear logistic regression models were used to examine factors associated with knowledge and differences between the two samples while adjusting for differences and covariates. Adults’ knowledge was overall poor (<25% correct responses), but notably higher for physical (48% in 2007, 44% in 2013) than social, cognitive or emotional milestones (≤21% in all cases). Knowledge was lower in the 2013 than the 2007 sample (23% in 2007, 21% in 2013), and in particular for mothers after adjusting for location and income (24% in 2007, 22% in 2013). Evidence of low knowledge may have important education and policy implications. Factors such as availability of child development evidence-based information, parental stress and access to quality childcare might play a role in the low levels of knowledge.

KEYWORDS:

• Child development
• knowledge

Acknowledgements

The Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research undertook the survey. The authors thank all participants in the study, and the Population Research Laboratory at the University of Alberta for collecting data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Anna Pujadas Botey is a Research Scientist with the Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. Her research interests include knowledge exchange, child and family well-being, and community resilience.

Angela Vinturache is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her research interests encompass epidemiology of obesity in pregnancy.

Hamideh Bayrampour is a Postdoctoral Fellow with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include mental health issues during pregnancy and child outcomes.

Rhonda Breitkreuz is an Associate Professor with the Department of Human Ecology at the University of Alberta. She works in the area of gender, family, and policy studies, and her research interests include childcare, family-functioning, and social policy related to the well-being of children and families.

Cecilia Bukutu is the Associate Director of the Child Youth Data Laboratory, Alberta Centre for Child, Family and Community Research. Her research interests encompass data linkage, child and youth development and well-being.

Ben Gibbard is a Developmental Paediatrician and Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. His clinical and research interests include fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, FASD, neurodevelopmental disorders and social pediatrics.

Suzanne Tough is an Alberta Innovates Health Scholar and Professor with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Her research program seeks to improve the health and well-being of women during pregnancy for optimal maternal, birth and early childhood outcomes.

Additional information

Funding

Funds for the 2013 study were provided by Ministry of Health of the Government of Alberta.