The Buffering Effect of Caregiver Education on Early Childhood Development in Low-Income Households: Evidence from Indonesia

Background/Objectives: Household poverty is a known risk factor for early childhood development. However, the extent to which caregiver education may moderate income-related developmental disadvantages remains underexplored in Southeast Asian contexts. This study investigated whether caregiver educational attainment buffers the association between household income, child-rearing environments, and early developmental outcomes in Indonesia. Methods: This study utilized cross-sectional data from Indonesian caregivers. To maximize statistical power, analyses of the home environment using the Index of Child Care Environment included the full sample (N = 933). Analyses of developmental outcomes using the Early Childhood Development Index were restricted to 3- and 4-year-old children (N = 355). General Linear Models (GLMs) were conducted, controlling for child age and sex. Results: For the home environment, both household income (p = 0.042) and caregiver education (p = 0.021) were independent, significant predictors, with no significant interaction. However, for developmental outcomes, the Income × Caregiver Education interaction was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Income and caregiver education were independently associated with the home environment, while their interaction was associated with developmental outcomes among children aged 3 to 4 years. These findings are consistent with an educational buffering hypothesis and warrant further longitudinal research.