Volume 54 - Article 1 | Pages 1–36  

Cumulative risk, center-based childcare and socio-emotional difficulties in early childhood: Evidence from Hungary

By Zsuzsanna Veroszta, Zsolt Spéder, Krisztina Kopcsó

Abstract

Background: Although center-based childcare attendance under age 3 is widespread in Europe, there is mixed evidence on its impact on children’s socio-emotional well-being.

Objective: This study examines whether attendance at Hungarian center-based childcare and the timing of entry into such care influenced the development of socio-emotional difficulties in children growing up during the COVID-19 pandemic. We pay particular attention to the impact of cumulative risks and whether enrollment in center-based care can compensate for their adverse effects.

Methods: Using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire as a measure, we examine the effects of cumulative sociodemographic risk and center-based childcare attendance on socio-emotional difficulties at age 3 in 2021–2022. Data were drawn from the Cohort ’18 Growing Up in Hungary study (n = 5,511). Multivariate associations were tested through logistic regression models. With its follow-up design, the study controls for unobserved heterogeneity and supports causal interpretations from temporal order.

Results: Cumulative risk, independent of all other factors, clearly and strongly increased the odds of socio-emotional difficulties. While internalizing symptoms were reduced by both early (OR = 0.55) and late (OR = 0.63) entry into center-based childcare, externalizing symptoms were reduced only by late entry (OR = 0.75). No compensatory effect of center-based childcare attendance for the disadvantaged could be confirmed.

Conclusions: The adverse effect of cumulative risk on early socio-emotional difficulties is evident. Attending center-based childcare provides benefits for the socio-emotional well-being of children of diverse social backgrounds.

Contribution: This study corroborates that center-based childcare eases children’s socio-emotional difficulties; however, its resilience-enhancing role for children facing sociodemographic disadvantages could not be confirmed.

Author’s Affiliation

• Zsuzsanna Veroszta - Népességtudományi Kutatóintézet (Hungarian Demographic Research Institute), Hungary EMAIL
• Zsolt Spéder - Népességtudományi Kutatóintézet (Hungarian Demographic Research Institute), Hungary EMAIL
• Krisztina Kopcsó - Népességtudományi Kutatóintézet (Hungarian Demographic Research Institute), Hungary EMAIL

Other articles by the same author/authors in Demographic Research

Hungary: Secular fertility decline with distinct period fluctuations
Volume 19 - Article 18

Generations and Gender Survey (GGS): Towards a better understanding of relationships and processes in the life course
Volume 17 - Article 14

Rudiments of recent fertility decline in Hungary: Postponement, educational differences, and outcomes of changing partnership forms
Volume 15 - Article 8

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