RESUMEN
The activities of health care workers and early childhood educators have received increased attention both in lay public discourse and in scientific discourse. These professional groups play a significant role in shaping the health behaviours of those they interact with; thus, understanding the patterns they convey is of paramount importance. The aim of our study is a comparative analysis of health conditions and health behaviours of professionals working in Hungarian early childhood education and nurses working in the healthcare system (n = 1591). We carried out our quantitative, cross-sectional research using convenience sampling among healthcare professionals working in nursing job positions (n = 581) and as early childhood educators (n = 1010), in south-west Hungary. Diagnosed chronic illnesses affect early childhood educators at a significantly higher rate (p < 0.05): the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders is particularly high among them, as a result of which they reported a significant degree of physical limitation in relation to work. In the context of mental health, comparing the professional groups, nurses' indicators were significantly (p < 0.001) more unfavourable in all examined dimensions. Moreover, the comparison in terms of educational attainment directed attention to the worse indicators of non-graduates. In this context, early childhood educators are less affected by all three dimensions of burnout (p < 0.001). As for health behaviour, the smoking habits of nurses are more unfavourable (p < 0.05). Regarding screening tests, participation in cytological testing was significantly higher among nurses, whereas early childhood educators showed increased participation in mammography (p < 0.001). Our findings draw attention to the fact that early childhood educators are primarily affected by chronic musculoskeletal disorders, while healthcare workers are more affected by problems related to mental health. Mental well-being can be further endangered by the fact that both professional groups perceive low social appreciation for the work they carry out.
RESUMEN
Young children possess the fundamental deductive reasoning skills for solving their upcoming problems in their daily lives. These skills are of great importance for their school readiness and academic development. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the age differences and predictive variables of deductive reasoning skills in young Hungarian children aged 4-8 years old who reside in Hungary and Slovakia. Face-to-face data were collected from 3050 participants. The instrument of deductive reasoning skills assessment was extracted from the school readiness test, DIFER (Diagnostic System for Assessing Development). Utilizing various statistical analyses with R, AMOS, and MPlus8 packages, it was found that there were significant differences in young children's deductive reasoning skills across countries and age groups. Parents' education levels had significant positive relationships with children's deductive reasoning skills development. And the variables of country and age were identified as significant predictors of children's deductive reasoning skills. And children's family background variables such as parental education played a significant role in predicting children's deductive reasoning skills in Hungary. The implications of this study emphasize the importance of educational contexts, parental involvement, cross-cultural exchange, and further research, with the potential to enhance young children's educational experiences and prospects in Hungary, Slovakia, and beyond.
RESUMEN
Early childhood plays a key role in the formation of healthy habits and the establishment of health literacy. Nonetheless, there are only a few research studies focusing on the health literacy level of children under the age of eight. The aim of our systematic review is to explore empirical research on health literacy related to early childhood. The research was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. This systematic review examines 12 studies published between 2013-2022. Results show that research focuses on different domains of health literacy for children. In relation to children's food literacy, children understand the relationship between health and nutrition and they realize the health impact of obesity. The habits connected to oral health are strongly associated with parents' knowledge of and behaviours around oral health. Results related to health care situations show that children are able to be actively involved in decision-making processes in connection with their health. Exploring young children's health literacy is essential in order to be able to plan health promotion interventions, embedded into early childhood education. Picture-based messages or story-based messages supported by illustrations can help measure health literacy in early childhood and can support the formation of health literacy.
