The impact of health-caregivers emotional nurturance on cognitive development in preschoolers: A nationwide public health cross-sectional study
Full Text (PDF)
Prakash Sharma 1 , Ioannis Pantelis Adamopoulos 2 3 * , Niki Fotios Syrou 4 , Chitra Bahadur Budhathoki 1 , Pramila Pudasaini Thapa 5
More Detail
1 Butwal Multiple Campus, Faculty of Education, Tribhuvan University, Butwal, NEPAL2 Department of Public Health Policy, Sector of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, Athens, GREECE3 Hellenic Republic Region of Attica, Department of Environmental Hygiene and Public Health Inspections, Athens, GREECE4 Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Karies, Trikala, GREECE5 Life Skills Education Institute, Kathmandu, NEPAL* Corresponding Author

Abstract

The study examines the relationship between emotional nurturance and cognitive development in preschool-aged children in Western Tarai, Nepal. The research involved 391 preschoolers from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, analyzing factors such as health-caregiver education, occupation, caste/ethnicity, and family structure. Results showed that age and certain socio-economic factors significantly influenced cognitive outcomes. Children aged 36-48 months had higher cognitive scores, and children from joint families scored higher than those from nuclear families. Children from disadvantaged caste backgrounds showed lower cognitive outcomes compared to those from advantaged castes. Emotional nurturance was positive but not significantly associated with cognitive development after adjustments. Socio-economic disparities, particularly caste and family structure, significantly influence cognitive outcomes among young children. Policies targeting socio-economic inequities are needed to promote equitable cognitive development, preventive public health, especially in pre-school children. Supportive interventions focusing on joint family systems and educational opportunities for mothers may further enhance cognitive outcomes in rural settings.

Keywords

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Original Article

ELECTRON J GEN MED, Volume 22, Issue 3, June 2025, Article No: em643

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejgm/16184

Publication date: 01 May 2025

Online publication date: 19 Mar 2025

Article Views: 190

Article Downloads: 117

Open Access References How to cite this article