Policy Research

The Culture of Health In Early Care And Education: Workers’ Wages, Health, And Job Characteristics

Jennifer J. Otten, Victoria A. Bradford, Bert Stover, Heather D. Hill, Cynthia Osborne, Katherine Getts, Noah Seixas

Summary

This article finds that Early Care and Education (ECE) workers have poorer health outcomes than the general population, but that more research is needed in order to determine exactly why this is. However, both low wages and high levels of stress were found to be associated with the health outcomes of ECE workers. The study compared ECE centers in Seattle, Washington and Austin, Texas in order to determine what effect wages have on health outcomes for these workers. While both groups seemed to face large mental health issues and stress, the group from Texas also faced physical health challenges. This emphasis on mental health correlates with data; concluding that ECE workers face extremely high levels of clinical depression, even when compared to those living below the poverty line. ECE workers also face high levels of food insecurity and other markers that link to poorer health outcomes.

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Policy Implications

The study finds that increased wages and greater investment in mental health services may improve health outcomes for ECE workers. Special attention may need to be provided to targeting the high levels of depression amongst these workers. Reducing teacher-to-child ratios may help to lessen the stress ECE workers face.