Antecedents of child literacy in Romania

Abstract

Background

This paper investigates multiple antecedents of literacy in children, such as demographics, child reading behaviour, parent reading behaviour and family context.

Methods

The study included a Romanian sample of 924 primary schoolers (Grades 1–4) and their parents; children and parents were tested with a standardised measure of literacy, and parents answered a number of self-report questions about their and their child's literacy-related behaviours.

Results

Regression analyses and relative predictor weights showed a significant positive association between child literacy and child behaviour (time currently spent by the child reading books), as well as with family context (especially parent literacy), followed by demographics and, to a lesser degree, with parent behaviour.

Conclusions

The findings provide a first solid understanding of the children's literacy phenomenon in the less investigated educational and cultural environment of Romania and encourage further research on this important topic.