The role of parents’ educational level and centre type in parent satisfaction with early childhood care centres: a study in Greece

ABSTRACT

This research examines specific facets of parent satisfaction with childcare centres, namely satisfaction with parent–centre communication and the educational services they provide, as well as respective parent beliefs. These were investigated in relation to centre type (private vs public) and parents’ education. Parents of different educational levels and with children in private or public day-care centres participated in the study. Whereas centre type played a role only concerning the satisfaction with parent–centre communication, the educational level of parents was consistently associated with parent beliefs and parent satisfaction: higher educated parents rated day-care centres less favourably as compared to lower educated parents. Furthermore, parent beliefs mediated the relationship between the educational level of parents and parent satisfaction. Our findings are discussed in the context of existing evidence and in relation to the necessity for a theoretical integration of this issue with implications for practice.

KEYWORDS:

• Parent satisfaction
• parent beliefs
• day-care centres
• educational level of parents
• Greece

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge Dr Vasilis Strogilos for his helpful comments in earlier drafts of this manuscript.