Poster #35 - Household Chaos and its Relation to Children’s Outcomes in Japan

• In Event: Poster Session 15

Abstract

Household Chaos is a condition that is characterized by disorganized household conditions, unpredictability, and household management not functioning properly.
This is thought to be related to various child outcomes, for example, social-emotional functioning, academic achievement, and problem behaviors. This household chaos has also been associated with a wide range of family factors, such as caregivers’ educational attainment, the family’s socioeconomic status, and the number of people living in the house. Furthermore, household chaos is considered a unique risk factor for various children’s outcomes, even after controlling for other factors that are believed to have a relationship with children’s outcomes. Since the study of household chaos is limited in Japan, the present study tries to determine whether this relationship is replicated in Japanese samples. Participants: The data comes from a longitudinal family survey, which started when the target child was 0. This is a birth cohort in a city in the vicinity of the metropolitan area of Tokyo. The present study used data from the 2nd (n=495), 6th (n=450), and 10th (n=322) waves when the target children’s average ages were 2.52, 7.16, and 11.22, respectively. Measures: Household chaos was measured by the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) (Matheny et al., 1985). The Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (Goodman, 1985) was used in this study for children's outcomes. In addition, we used Parental Bonding Index (PBI) (Parker, 1983) to determine how mothers interact with their children. Mothers answered CHAOS, SDQ, PBI, and demographic variables such as the target child’s age, gender, number of cohabitants, and family income. The data from the 10th wave were used for the correlation and regression analysis. Results: First, the means were calculated and compared to examine whether there were any changes in the CHAOS score over time. As a result, it was shown that CHAOS scores did not change with time. Second, weak but significant correlations were found between family factors and CHAOS scores: lower family income and more people in the home were associated with higher CHAOS scores, but there was no significant association between parental educational attainment and CHAOS score. The correlation coefficients between the CHAOS and children’s mental health were calculated to test the relationship between the CHAOS and the SDQ when the child was about ten years old. The result showed that CHAOS scores were weak but significantly related to each SDQ difficulties subscale; relatively stronger relationship with conduct problems. Lastly, we conducted regression analysis with CHAOS and PBI as independent variables and each SDQ subscale as dependent variables, controlling for children’s age and gender, the number of cohabitants, and family income. CHAOS was a unique risk factor for each SDQ subscale except for peer problems. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the chaotic home condition can be considered a relatively stable characteristic of the household rather than one that changes over time. In addition, the results show that household chaos is related to family socioeconomic status, available space, and children’s mental health and could be a unique risk factor for children’s outcomes.

Authors

• Satoko Matsumoto, Ochanomizu University
  Presenting Author

• Akiko Kawashima, University of Yamanashi

• Masumi Sugawara, Shirayuri University