The association between parental involvement in developmental advance and mental health in Chinese preschoolers: a cross-sectional study.

Each unit increase in Parental Involvement in Developmental Advance (PIDA) score was associated with a 2% lower risk of total difficulties in Chinese preschoolers.

• OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.97-0.99
• Study involved 21,366 children from 189 kindergartens aged 3-6 years in a western Chinese city
• Stratified cluster sampling was used
• PIDA was assessed via the StimQ Scale measuring parental involvement in emergent literacy and math/spatial orientation teaching activities
• Children's mental health was evaluated using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)

Each unit increase in PIDA score was associated with a 4% higher likelihood of prosocial behavior in Chinese preschoolers.

• OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.03-1.05
• Prosocial behavior was operationalized as prosocial behavior scores from the SDQ
• Sample comprised 21,366 children from 189 kindergartens
• Cross-sectional study design

Non-linear relationships were found between PIDA and mental health outcomes, with optimal benefits at PIDA scores of 12 for total difficulties and 11 for prosocial behavior.

• Beyond the optimal PIDA score of 12, excessive involvement elevated the risk of total difficulties by 18% (OR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.14-1.22)
• Beyond the optimal PIDA score of 11, excessive involvement reduced prosocial behavior by 2% (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99)
• Non-linear associations were identified in the analysis
• These findings indicate a threshold effect where increasing PIDA beyond certain levels reverses the beneficial association

Subgroup analyses indicated stronger effects of PIDA on mental health in families with lower socioeconomic status.

• Significant interactions were found between PIDA and parental education level
• Significant interactions were also found between PIDA and parental employment status
• Subgroup analyses were conducted across specific demographic categories
• These findings suggest that socioeconomic factors moderate the relationship between PIDA and child mental health outcomes

The study used a large cross-sectional design with stratified cluster sampling to assess PIDA and preschool mental health across 189 kindergartens in a western Chinese city.

• Total sample of 21,366 children aged 3-6 years
• Kindergartens were sampled from a western Chinese city
• PIDA was measured using the StimQ Scale, covering emergent literacy and math/spatial orientation
• Mental health outcomes included SDQ total difficulties scores and prosocial behavior scores
• Cross-sectional study design limits causal inference