This project represents a new line of inquiry aimed at understanding the influences of future orientation and other associated psychological characteristics on participant engagement in Early Head Start. Such an understanding could improve the capacity of Early Head Start programs to promote engagement and program utilization. To this end, the psychological characteristics (agency, depression, and relationship attitudes) of pregnant women and mothers enrolled in Early Head Start are to be studied in relation to level of future orientation, in order to predict temporal (e.g., attendance, keeping appointments, duration of meetings) and psychosocial aspects of program engagement. The project also entails an exploration of participant educational / occupational goal development at the time of enrollment in relation to future orientation, and in relation to program engagement at 2 and 6 months post enrollment. Also, while the current study addresses characteristics of pregnant women and mothers (who constitute the majority of EHS caregivers), a parallel study is planned of the same variables with fathers and other male caregivers of children enrolled in Early Head Start.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32MH066483-02
Application #
6649796
Study Section
Risk, Prevention and Health Behavior Integrated Review Group (RPHB)
Program Officer
Light, Enid
Project Start
2002-09-08
Project End
2004-09-07
Budget Start
2003-09-08
Budget End
2004-09-07
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$50,416
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Colorado Denver
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041096314
City
Aurora
State
CO
Country
United States
Zip Code
80045