Family socioeconomic status and home nurture environment in early childhood development: A mediation analysis in children under three in rural China

Abstract

Objectives

Previous research has highlighted the impact of household socio-economic status (SES) and caregiving quality on child development. However, studies examining the dual effects of SES and parenting quality on early childhood development (ECD) outcomes in rural Chinese populations are limited. This study explores the mediating role of the home nurture environment in the relationship between SES and ECD outcomes in rural areas.

Study Design

ECD data were collected from 529 children aged 12–36 months in rural villages of Hubei province, China. The study investigates how the home nurture environment (HNE) mediates the relationship between SES and ECD.

Methods

The Child Home Nurture Environment Scales (CHNES), the Chinese version of Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-C), and some socioeconomic indicators were used to assess HNE, ECD outcomes, and SES, respectively. Mediation models were applied to analyze the mediating effect.

Results

The HNE accounted for 19.4 % of the total effect of SES on overall developmental delay. Specific subscales of the CHNES revealed that HNE explained 24.3 % of the effect on Social Adaptation/Self-Care, 13.9 % on Language/Cognition, and 11.1 % on Parental Warmth. Furthermore, HNE mediated the relationship between SES and the number of delayed developmental domains. In subgroup analyses, the mediating effect of HNE was stronger in girls, particularly within the Social Adaptation/Self-Care subscale, where it mediated 36.3 % of the total effect.

Conclusions

The development of children aged under three from low-SES households may be improved through fostering independent skills and encouraging daily exploration of their surroundings, particularly for girls.