Is participation in the target poverty alleviation program associated with early childhood development? Evidence from Southwest China

Significant efforts have been made globally to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development. While the economic benefits and improved living standards from such programs are well-documented, their impact on early childhood development (ECD) remains less understood. This study investigated whether participation in China’s Targeted Poverty Alleviation (TPA) program, which was designed as a sustainable livelihood initiative, was associated with ECD in different domains, beyond its primary goal of poverty alleviation. Additionally, it explored the potential mediating roles of parental investment and parental care. The sample included 1,415 families with children aged 18–42 months (632 girls) from 33 remote and mountainous towns in southwestern China, of which 432 families had participated in the TPA program. All families had been lifted out of absolute poverty during the data collection period. Children’s development was assessed using the Chinese version of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition. Hierarchical linear modeling revealed a positive association between TPA participation and children’s socio-emotional development, with the presence of parental care identified as a significant mediator. These findings suggest that TPA participation, by facilitating parental care, supports children’s socio-emotional development. This study highlights the importance of integrating parenting-friendly strategies into poverty alleviation programs to enhance both household economic security and ECD outcomes in low-income families.