The Relationship of the HOME to the Characteristics of Primary Caregivers of Infants and Toddlers

영·유아의 양육책임자에 따른 가정환경자극의 영향

The relationship between home environment variables for infants and toddlers and the nature of primary caregivers were examined in the present study. The purpose of the study was to explore the possibility of home stimulation deprivation when infants were not cared by their own mothers. Primary caregivers were classified into mothers, blood related adults, and unrelated adults. The home environment was assessed with the Korean version of HOME (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment) by means of interview and observation. The subjects of this study were 126 infants aged 3 to 36 months and their primary caregiver, adults who provided more than 8 hours day-time care for infants at home. The results were as follows : 1) The primary caregiver had an effect on the infants' home environmental stimulation. That is, the group of mothers as primary caregivers had the highest HOME scores, the second highest were blood related adults, and the unrelated adults were the last. 2) There were no sex differences in HOME scores. 3) There were significant relationships between the educational level of the caregiver and HOME. That is, the higher educational levels showed higher HOME scores.