Which Meso-Level Characteristics of Early Childhood Education and Care Centers Are Associated with Health, Health Behavior, and Well-Being of Young Children? Findings of a Scoping Review

Raphael M. Herr, Katharina Diehl, Sven Schneider, Nina Osenbruegge, Nicole Memmer, Steffi Sachse, Stephanie Hoffmann, Benjamin Wachtler, Max Herke, Claudia R. Pischke, Anna Novelli and Jennifer Hilger-Kolb
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Raphael M. Herr: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Katharina Diehl: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Sven Schneider: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Nina Osenbruegge: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Nicole Memmer: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
Steffi Sachse: Institute of Psychology, University of Education Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Stephanie Hoffmann: Department of Public Health, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, 01968 Senftenberg, Germany
Benjamin Wachtler: Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101 Berlin, Germany
Max Herke: Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06112 Halle, Germany
Claudia R. Pischke: Institute of Medical Sociology, Center for Health and Society, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
Anna Novelli: Chair of Health Economics, Technical University of Munich, 80992 Munich, Germany
Jennifer Hilger-Kolb: Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-26

Abstract: Characteristics of early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers might be relevant for children’s health. This scoping review aims to provide an overview of the association between meso-level characteristics (MLCs) of ECEC centers with children’s health, health behavior, and wellbeing. Five databases were searched for quantitative and qualitative research articles published in English or German since 1 January 2000 on health, health behavior, and wellbeing of children aged 0 to 6 years considering MLCs of ECEC centers. Two authors screened 10,396 potentially eligible manuscripts and identified 117 papers, including 3077 examinations of the association between MLCs and children’s health indicators (Kappas > 0.91). Five categories of MLCs were identified: (1) structural characteristics, (2) equipment/furnishings, (3) location, (4) facilities/environment, (5) culture/activities/policies/practices, and 6) staff. Only very few studies found an association of MLCs with body weight/obesity, and general health and wellbeing. Especially physical activity and mental health were related to MLCs. In general, the location (rural vs. urban, neighborhood status) seemed to be a relevant health aspect. MLCs of ECEC centers appeared relevant for child health indicators to different degrees. Future research should focus on these associations, in detail, to identify concrete ECEC indicators that can support health promotion in early childhood.

Keywords: scoping review; early childhood education and care (ECEC) centers; kindergarten; young children; meso-level characteristics; health; health behavior; socioeconomic position; health inequalities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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