Socioeconomic burdens and mental health in adult life - The role of early childhood care in East and West Germany.

This study aims to examine the long-term socio-economic and psychological outcomes associated with different early childhood care arrangements, while considering the influence of historical and political regional differences between East and West Germany.A total of 4,130 individuals (2,069 from East Germany and 2,061 from West Germany) were surveyed regarding their early childhood care experiences. Participants were divided into three groups: (1) those exclusively in family care, (2) those who received additional external care before age three, and (3) those who entered external care from age three onward. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests, alpha-adjusted t-tests, and multiple regression analyses to assess the prevalence of adult socio-economic burdens across care groups.Findings indicated that East Germans raised exclusively in family care were more likely to experience socio-economic disadvantages in adulthood compared to peers who received early external care. Similar, though less pronounced, patterns were observed among participants from West Germany.The results highlight regional differences in the long-term effects of early childcare, reflecting historical and structural variations between East and West Germany. In the East, where external childcare was more institutionalized, such arrangements appear to have provided lasting protective effects against socio-economic disadvantage.External childcare, particularly in East Germany, may play a significant role in mitigating long-term inequalities. These findings underscore the importance of early interventions and equitable childcare access in addressing structural and political determinants of social inequality.