Cooperative childrearing in middle childhood and biosocial pathways to adolescent wellbeing: A mixed-method investigation using ALSPAC

Are non-parental caregivers important for children and young people's wellbeing, even in societies with strong nuclear family and intensive parenting norms? This mixed-method project uses the "Children of the 90s" cohort study to investigate the role of alloparents (non-parental caregivers) in England, examining the biosocial pathways between different forms of local childrearing systems and adolescent outcomes.

CONTEXT

Western family structures are often described as nuclear, and in the UK, this is coupled with intensive parenting norms. Childrearing is seen as a private matter, and parents (particularly mothers) are viewed as being predominantly responsible for raising children. From an evolutionary anthropological perspective, this way of raising children is highly unusual: anthropological studies show that non-parental caregivers (alloparents) are ubiquitous and crucial contributors to childcare across cultures.

It has therefore been hypothesised that humans evolved a unique system of cooperative childrearing, co-evolving with an extended period of dependence throughout childhood and adolescence. In essence, it takes a village to raise a child. CURRENT CHALLENGE

While evolutionary theory points to the importance of non-parental caregivers, our current knowledge surrounding raising children centre on parenting, with particular focus on the early years. However, despite the intensive parenting norms, families in the UK exist within varied and complex systems of support. In addition to parents, alloparents such as family, friends, and professional caregivers are often involved in children's lives.

This "local childrearing system" likely remains important beyond the early years, with many families requiring after-school/weekend childcare. Yet, it is unclear how families exist within local childrearing systems, and how these systems impact children and young people's health and wellbeing. A comprehensive understanding of the wider childrearing system is crucial to design effective policy and practice impacting parents, children, and young people.