| Control group N = 480 | Intervention group N = 518 |
|
| N (%) | N (%) | P |
Gender |
|
|
|
Boys | 259 (54.1) | 267 (51.8) | 0.482* |
Girls | 220 (45.9) | 248 (48.2) |
|
Nationality |
|
|
|
Greek | 375 (78.3) | 429 (82.8) | 0.070* |
Other | 104 (21.7) | 89 (17.2) |
|
Age (years), mean (SD) | 4.6 (0.5) | 4.6 (0.5) | 0.368** |
Comprehension of the spoken language |
|
|
|
None to moderate | 74 (16.0) | 61 (12.1) | 0.082* |
Very good/Excellent | 388 (84.0) | 442 (87.9) |
|
Ability of speaking the language |
|
|
|
None to moderate | 113 (24.5) | 117 (23.4) | 0.700* |
Very good/Excellent | 349 (75.5) | 383 (76.6) |
|
Father’s educational level |
|
|
|
Primary to high school | 338 (80.7) | 375 (75.6) | 0.066* |
2-year college/University/Post-graduate studies | 81 (19.3) | 121 (24.4) |
|
Mother’s educational level |
|
|
|
Primary to high school | 309 (73.0) | 328 (66.1) | 0.023* |
2-year college/University/Post-graduate studies | 114 (27.0) | 168 (33.9) |
|
Parents living together |
|
|
|
No | 24 (5.1) | 18 (3.5) | 0.240* |
Yes | 451 (94.9) | 491 (96.5) |
|
Family residing with grandparents |
|
|
|
No | 379 (83.7) | 404 (82.8) |
|
Yes | 74 (16.3) | 84 (17.2) | 0.719* |
Number of siblings |
|
|
|
None | 91 (19.2) | 64 (12.5) | 0.002* |
One | 215 (45.3) | 219 (42.9) |
|
Two more | 169 (35.6) | 228 (44.6) |
|
Birth order |
|
|
|
First | 265 (55.9) | 247 (48.3) | 0.031* |
Second | 152 (32.1) | 204 (39.9) |
|
Third or above | 57 (12.0) | 60 (11.7) |
|
Kindergarten located in the same premises with primary school |
|
|
|
No | 404 (84.2) | 472 (91.5) | <0.001* |
Yes | 76 (15.8) | 44 (8.5) |
|
Kindergarten’s operating hours |
|
|
|
Classic | 345 (71.9) | 395 (76.6) | 0.092* |
All-day | 135 (28.1) | 121 (23.4) |
|
Number of students, mean (SD) | 16.8 (3.0) | 16.5 (3.4) | 0.141** |