In a previous study of the Child-Parent Centers (CPC) education program, preschool participation was linked to a 4.6 percentage point reduction (26%) in depressive symptoms at ages 22–24 over the matched comparison group enrolling the usual programs. The present study reanalyzed these data in the Chicago Longitudinal Study to address potential attrition bias since more than a quarter of the sample was missing on the outcome. Using inverse probability weighting (IPW) involving 32 predictors of sample retention, findings for the 1,142 participants growing up in high-poverty neighborhoods indicated that CPC participation was associated with a 7.1 percentage point reduction (95% CI = [−9.7, −5.4]) in one or more depressive symptoms (39% reduction over the comparison group). Although this marginal effect was within the confidence interval of the original study (95% CI = [−9.5, 0.3]), the 54% increase in the point estimate is substantial and of practical significance, suggesting underestimation in the prior study. Alternative analysis of different predictors and IPW models, including adjustments for program selection and attrition together, yielded similar results. Findings indicate that high-quality early childhood programs continue to be an important strategy for the prevention of depression and its debilitating effects on individuals and families.

在之前对儿童家长中心 (CPC) 教育计划的研究中，与参加常规计划的匹配对照组相比，学龄前参与与 22-24 岁的抑郁症状减少 4.6 个百分点 (26%) 相关。本研究重新分析了芝加哥纵向研究中的这些数据，以解决潜在的损耗偏倚，因为超过四分之一的样本在结果中缺失。使用涉及 32 个样本保留预测因子的逆概率加权 (IPW)，对在高贫困社区长大的 1,142 名参与者的调查结果表明，参与 CPC 与减少 7.1 个百分点相关（95% CI = [-9.7, -5.4] ) 出现一种或多种抑郁症状（比对照组减少 39%）。尽管这种边际效应在原始研究的置信区间内（95% CI = [-9.5, 0.3]），但点估计值的 54% 增加是实质性的且具有实际意义，这表明之前的研究被低估了。对不同预测因子和 IPW 模型的替代分析，包括对项目选择和人员流失的调整，产生了类似的结果。调查结果表明，高质量的幼儿教育计划仍然是预防抑郁症及其对个人和家庭造成的衰弱影响的重要策略。包括对项目选择和人员减员的调整，产生了类似的结果。调查结果表明，高质量的幼儿教育计划仍然是预防抑郁症及其对个人和家庭造成的衰弱影响的重要策略。包括对项目选择和人员减员的调整，产生了类似的结果。调查结果表明，高质量的幼儿教育计划仍然是预防抑郁症及其对个人和家庭造成的衰弱影响的重要策略。