Context for the 2024 programme
This study forms one part of a wider programme of work
The research page places this project in the context of the books, publications and the longer-term programme of work.
2024 practice-based study
Findings and limitations
from the 2024 programme
Eighty-one children exposed to four or more concurrent developmental risk factors participated in a targeted preschool programme in two kindergartens.
01 / STUDY DESIGN
Who participated and what was measured?
The study used direct assessment alongside parent and educator ratings. All participants were approaching compulsory school age.
- Sample
- 81 children: 37 girls and 44 boys
- Settings
- Two kindergartens in the Encs district, Hungary
- Age at entry
- Mean 5.77 years; range 5.1–7.1
- Risk exposure
- 54 children with four, 22 with five and 5 with six concurrent risk factors
- Assessment
- Cognitive measures, MSSST screening, Conners questionnaires and adult-rated resilience scales
- Analysis
- Paired t-tests for pre–post comparisons; df = 80
02 / INTERACTIVE FINDINGS
Six reported pre–post changes
Select a measure to view its values, direction of change, instrument note and statistical result.
STUDY DATARegional cohort · n = 81
—Loading metric
—Pre–post change
2Measurement points
03 / MSSST CATEGORIES
Changes in age-referenced MSSST screening categories
The MSSST categories are age-referenced screening classifications. A lower category indicates lower assessed risk; the categories are not diagnoses.
| Category | Baseline | Follow-up | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| No indicated risk | 15 | 29 | +14 |
| Mild indicated risk | 44 | 44 | 0 |
| Indicated risk | 22 | 8 | −14 |
The mean category value changed from 2.09 to 1.74 (t = 6.173, p < .0001); a lower value represents a lower assessed risk category.
04 / LIMITATIONS
Limits on interpretation
The findings should be interpreted alongside the study design, non-findings and sources of uncertainty.
- The sample came from one geographical region and is not representative.
- There was no randomised control group, so causal attribution is limited.
- Attendance varied; not every child received identical exposure.
- Spontaneous maturation and ongoing kindergarten support may have contributed.
- Parent and educator ratings reflect different settings and perspectives.
- Most risk factors remained present. The programme was intended to moderate their effects, not remove them.
- Behavioural difficulties remained important even after favourable aggregate changes.