The primary aim of this pilot study was to examine relations between work and health for early childhood educators post-pandemic. Secondary aims were to examine relations among early childhood educators, parents, and children. Center-based early childhood educators were recruited and enrolled across calendar year 2024 using a targeted, purposive and convenience sampling strategy of center-based early childhood educators living in Ohio. Through community partners with whom we had existing relationships, we distributed information about the study through emails and flyers to listservs and administrators of early educational centers. Eligibility criteria were (a) at least 18 years old and (b) employed primarily as a center-based educator of children 0-5 years old. Parents were then recruited via backpack mail from the classrooms of educators who consented to participate in the study. After participant eligibility was confirmed, we collected electronic consent. There was one time point of data collection. Data were collected from early childhood educators at their convenience through electronic online surveys (REDCap) and objective measures of health including blood pressure and a subsample of educators provided data from hair cortisol samples and metrics from a Fitbit Charge 6. Parents completed electronic surveys. Study approval came from the University of Cincinnati Institutional Review Board (2023-1034).
*Data are in the process of being de-identified (directly and indirectly) and uploaded here.
