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The impact of early and late childcare experience on cognitive functions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2022

A.Z. Békefi ,
J. Kárpáti  and
J. Futó
A.Z. Békefi*
Affiliation:
Eötvös Loránd University, Department Of Developmental And Clinical Child Psychology, Budapest, Hungary
J. Kárpáti
Affiliation:
Eötvös Loránd University, Department Of Developmental And Clinical Child Psychology, Budapest, Hungary
J. Futó
Affiliation:
Eötvös Loránd University, Department Of Developmental And Clinical Child Psychology, Budapest, Hungary
*
*Corresponding author.

Abstract

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Introduction

Previous studies have found long lasting cognitive delays among children with early childcare experience, especially institutionalised experience. However, little is known about institutions’ effect in late childhood.

Objectives

Our goal is to identify the characteristics of cognitive functions in connection to attachment related anxiety among adopted children and children living in institutional care.

Methods

The participants’ (N=68, Mage=14.20, 29 boys and 39 girls) cognitive functions were measured with the following tests: Rey15 Memory Task, Knock And Tap Task, Simon Says Test, Verbal Fluency Task, D-KEFS 20 Questions Test. Participants completed two questionnaires: the Family Affluence Scale and the Experiences In Close Relationships Revised Scale. The results from the adopted children (N=19) and children living in institutional care (N=18) were compared to the matched control group: children living with their biological parents (N=31).

Results

Children living in institutional care did not differ significantly from their (SES-based) matched controls. Children adopted after the age of 2 years (N=7, M =56,57month) and the low SES control group (N=14) differed from the high SES control group on tests of attention (Verbal Fluency Task, Mhigh.c.=212.50, Mad.aft.2=193.50, U=59.50, z=-2.62, p=0.009) and verbal memory (Rey15, Mhigh.c.=17.94, Mad.aft.2=9.18, U=35.00, z=-2.79, p=0.005). Children adopted before the age of 2 years differed from the high SES control as well, in inhibition (Simon Says Test, Mhigh.c.=12.26, Mad.bef.2=18.88, U=55.55, z=-2.23, p=0.026).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that only in the early years is child protection experience associated with long-lasting cognitive delays and attachment related anxiety.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Keywords

childcareExecutive functionsinstitutionalisationattachment security
Type
Abstract
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 65 , Special Issue S1: Abstracts of the 30th European Congress of Psychiatry , June 2022 , pp. S614
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association
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