A CONCEPTUAL-MODEL FOR STUDYING TURNOVER AMONG FAMILY CHILD-CARE PROVIDERS

This article outlines a theoretical framework for studying turnover am ong family child care providers. Stress and coping theory and organiza tional models of turnover are integrated with the child care literatur e in order to develop a conceptual model for studying turnover and its precursors among home-based caregivers. The model proposes four compo nents which interact along the path to turnover: (a) potential sources of stress, (b) moderators of stress, (c) outcomes of a cognitive appr aisal process, and (d) actions on those outcomes. Implications for fut ure research and practical applications are discussed.