Child's Home Environment Research Articles

The influence of the family environment on adaptive functioning in the classroom: A longitudinal study of children with developmental disabilities

BackgroundNo study has examined trajectories of school-based adaptive functioning (AF) for children with developmental disabilities (DD). This is a critical gap in the literature, since AF is context dependent, and high levels of AF at school facilitate meaningful participation at school. AimsThis study examined trajectories of school-based AF for 170 children with DD from age 3 to 15 years, and indicators of the early childhood home and family environment as predictors of these trajectories. MethodsMultilevel modeling was used to explore trajectories of school-based AF and identify early childhood home and family predictors of these trajectories. ResultsChildren’s school-based AF raw scores increased over time. There was significant variability in initial status and rate of change of AF. As hypothesized, higher quality mother-child interaction predicted more positive functioning. ConclusionsFindings indicate the influence of the early childhood home and family environment on school-based AF over time.

The Perry Preschoolers at Late Midlife: A Study in Design-Specific Inference

This paper presents the first analysis of the life course outcomes through late midlife (around age 55) for the participants of the iconic Perry Preschool Project, an experimental high-quality preschool program for disadvantaged African-American children in the 1960s. We discuss the design of the experiment, compromises in and adjustments to the randomization protocol, and the extent of knowledge about departures from the initial random assignment. We account for these factors in developing conservative small-sample hypothesis tests that use approximate worst-case (least favorable) randomization null distributions. We examine how our new methods compare with standard inferential methods, which ignore essential features of the experimental setup. Widely used procedures produce misleading inferences about treatment effects. Our design-specific inferential approach can be applied to analyze a variety of compromised social and economic experiments, including those using re-randomization designs. Despite the conservative nature of our statistical tests, we find long-term treatment effects on crime, employment, health, cognitive and non-cognitive skills, and other outcomes of the Perry participants. Treatment effects are especially strong for males. Improvements in childhood home environments and parental attachment appear to be an important source of the long-term benefits of the program.

Early childhood predictors of boys' antisocial and violent behavior in early adulthood.

Research on early childhood predictors of violent behaviors in early adulthood is limited. The current study investigated whether individual, family, and community risk factors from 18 to 42 months of age were predictive of violent criminal arrests during late adolescence and early adulthood using a sample of 310 low-income male participants living in an urban community. In addition, differences in trajectories of overt conduct problems (CP), hyperactivity/attention problems (HAP), and co-occurring patterns of CP and HAP from age 1½ to 10 years were investigated in regard to their relationship to violent and nonviolent behaviors, depression, and anxiety at age 20. Results of multivariate analyses indicated that early childhood family income, home environment, emotion regulation, oppositional behavior, and minority status were all significant in distinguishing violent offending boys from those with no criminal records. In addition, trajectories of early childhood CP, but not attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, were significantly related to self-reports of violent behavior, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Implications for the prevention of early childhood risk factors associated with adolescent and adult violent behavior for males are discussed.

Evaluation of a New Theory of the Racial Achievement Gap

Background Although various hypotheses have been offered to explain the racial achievement gap between White and Black students, conventional theories that focus on the quality of schools, teachers, or a child's home environment are unsatisfactory. Instead, the available evidence points to a new theory. Purpose The purpose of the study was to evaluate the new theory against this evidence and to compare the explanatory capacity of this theory with the explanatory capacity of three conventional theories of the racial achievement gap. Sample/Design/Analysis Analyses of data from the nationally representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study of the Kindergarten Class of 1998 (ECLS-K) were combined with results from studies that suggest how the hypothesized mechanism operates to maintain and perpetuate differences in achievement that exist at entry into kindergarten, plus results from randomized experiments that test hypothesized theoretical relationships. Results The results suggest a pattern of puzzling empirical results that are difficult to reconcile except in terms of the new theory. Conclusion The evidence points away from conventional theories regarding the achievement gap and toward the new theory.

Variation in the Heritability of Child Body Mass Index by Obesogenic Home Environment

The early obesogenic home environment is consistently identified as a key influence on child weight trajectories, but little research has examined the mechanisms of that influence. Such research is essential for the effective prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. To test behavioral susceptibility theory's hypothesis that the heritability of body mass index (BMI) is higher among children who live in more obesogenic home environments. This study was a gene-environment interaction twin study that used cross-sectional data from 925 families (1850 twins) in the Gemini cohort (a population-based prospective cohort of twins born in England and Wales between March and December 2007). Data were analyzed from July to October 2013 and in June 2018. Parents completed the Home Environment Interview, a comprehensive measure of the obesogenic home environment in early childhood. Three standardized composite scores were created to capture food, physical activity, and media-related influences in the home; these were summed to create an overall obesogenic risk score. The 4 composite scores were split on the mean, reflecting higher-risk and lower-risk home environments. Quantitative genetic model fitting was used to estimate heritability of age-adjusted and sex-adjusted BMI (BMI SD score, estimated using British 1990 growth reference data) for children living in lower-risk and higher-risk home environments. Among 1850 twins (915 [49.5%] male and 935 [50.5%] female; mean [SD] age, 4.1 [0.4] years), the heritability of BMI SD score was significantly higher among children living in overall higher-risk home environments (86%; 95% CI, 68%-89%) compared with those living in overall lower-risk home environments (39%; 95% CI, 21%-57%). The findings were similar when examining the heritability of BMI in the separate food and physical activity environment domains. These findings support the hypothesis that obesity-related genes are more strongly associated with BMI in more obesogenic home environments. Modifying the early home environment to prevent weight gain may be particularly important for children genetically at risk for obesity.

Lead exposure from households and school settings: influence of diet on blood lead levels.

Lead is known as a potent toxicant to human health, particularly for children while their central nervous system is developing. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead exposure in the children's diet, home, and school environments. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 153 children aged 1-4years, in four day care centers (DCCs), where a high prevalence of lead exposure was previously found. Lead determination by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) was performed for venous blood, drinking water collected in the DCCs, and the 24-h diet (n = 64). Environmental screenings were conducted to evaluate lead concentrations in the tableware, buildings, and playground items in all DCCs and children's homes (n = 18) by using a field-portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer (FP-XRF). The BLL mean was 2.71μgdL-1. Means for 24-h lead concentrations in the diet were 1.61 and 2.24μgkg-1 of body weight (BW) in two DCCs. Lead concentrations in the water supply were lower than 2μgL-1. More than 11% of the DCCs' environmental analyses presented lead concentrations higher than or equal to 1mgcm-2, as defined by the USEPA. The diet was not found to be a risk factor for lead exposure, but households and DCC settings raised concern. Children's exposure to lead in DCC environments, where they spend the most part of their weekdays, appeared to be relevant. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Quality of home environment and mathematical interactions of mothers with young children: Focused on moderating effects of mothers’ view about children’s mathematical learning

연구목적: 이 연구는 어머니의 수학적 상호작용과 가정환경의 질, 수학학습관점의 관계를 알아보고, 가정환경의 질과 어머니의 수학적 상호작용의 관계에서 어머니의 수학학습관점에 대한 조절효과를 분석하는 데 목적이 있다. 방법: 서울 및 수도권에 소재한 어린이집의 만 3, 4, 5세 유아의 어머니 333명을 대상으로 편상관분석과 조절회귀분석을 실시하였다. 결과: 어머니의 수학적 상호작용은 가정환경의 질과 수학학습관점과 정적 상관이 있으며, 수학학습관점은 가정환경의 질과 수학적 상호작용의 관계에서 조절효과를 나타냈다. 결론: 구성주의적 관점에서 유아의 수학학습을 바라보는 어머니가 가정환경의 질이 수학적 상호작용에 기여하는 관련성을 강화시킬 수 있다. 이 연구는 올바른 가정수학학습환경 조성을 통해 아동의 인지 발달을 위한 권리를 보장하는데 기여할 것이다.Objectives: This study is intended to reveal the relationship between early childhood mother’s mathematical interaction, quality of home environment, and their view about mathematics learning, and whether their view about mathematics learning moderates the influence of quality of the home environment on mathematical interaction. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted on 333 mothers of 3, 4, and 5-year-old children attending childcare centers. partial correlations, moderator regression were used for data analysis. Results: Quality of the home environment and early childhood mothers’ view about mathematics learning were positively correlated with their mathematical interaction. Mothers’ view about mathematics learning moderated the relation between quality of the home environment and mathematical interaction. Conclusions: The mother’s perception of children’s mathematics learning from the viewpoint of constructivist can strengthen the influence of the quality of the home environment on mathematical interaction. This study could contribute to guarantee children’s right to development through supporting to make more developmentally appropriate home environment for children’s mathematical learning.

Punishment and Inequality at an Early Age: Exclusionary Discipline in Elementary School.

We advance current knowledge of school punishment by examining (1) the prevalence of exclusionary discipline in elementary school, (2) racial disparities in exclusionary discipline in elementary school, and (3) the association between exclusionary discipline and aggressive behavior in elementary school. Using child and parent reports from the Fragile Families Study, we estimate that more than 1 in 10 children born 1998-2000 in large US cities were suspended or expelled by age nine, when most were in third grade. We also find extreme racial disparity; about 40% of non-Hispanic black boys were suspended or expelled, compared to 8% of non-Hispanic white or other-race boys. Disparities are largely due to differences in children's school and home environments rather than to behavior problems. Next, consistent with social stress and strain theories, we find suspension or expulsion associated with increased aggressive behavior in elementary school. This association does not vary by race but is robust to a rich set of covariates, individual fixed-effects, and matching methods. In conjunction with what we find for racial disparities, our results imply that school discipline policies relying heavily on exclusionary punishment may be fostering childhood inequality.

Effects of home environment on changes in the motor development for typical-development infants and toddlers

Motor functions are affected by the home environment in childhood. This study aims to identify the home environment factors in the motor development of infants and toddlers. This follow-up study had involved 1000 typical-development children, classifying children into infant group (6 months old, n = 500) and toddler group (3 years old, n = 500). Participants were from Kids in Taiwan: National Longitudinal Study of Child Development & Care (KIT). Developmental Motor Screening Scale for Preschool Children (DMSSPC), including body coordination (BC), stability and locomotion (S&L), visual motor integration (VMI), and grasp and manipulation (G&M) domains, was used to assess motor development at baseline and follow up (infants: 6-months follow up and toddlers: 12-months follow up). Home Environment Scale (HES), including parent response (PR), parent participation/learning stimulation (PP/LS), physical environment (PE), child acceptance (CA), speech stimulation (SS), learning material (LM), and environmental diversity (ED), was measured at baseline. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the correlation between HES and DMSSPC at baseline and change scores of DMSSPC (DMSSPC score at follow-up - DMSSPC score at baseline). Nearly all HES domains had significantly positive correlations with DMSSPC domains at baseline in infant group. In toddler group, HES domains had significantly positive correlations with DMSSPC domains, except PE with VMI and S&L, and CA with VMI and S&L. Additionally, HES domains except PE and CA had significantly negative correlations with change scores of G&M in infant group. While only PP/LS and ED had significantly negative correlations with change scores of G&M in toddler group. A better home environment is associated with greater motor development in most domains. However, a better home environment is linked to lesser changes in G&M development, especially infant groups. These findings may suggest providing a good home environment is important for motor development, especially infant groups.

A Prospective, Longitudinal Examination of the Influence of Childhood Home and School Contexts on Psychopathic Characteristics in Adolescence.

Much of the existing research examining etiological contributors to psychopathic characteristics considers only biological and physiological deficits, with little consideration given to contextual factors that may play a role in their development. This prospective, longitudinal study examined the influence of childhood home and school environments on adolescent psychopathic characteristics among 390 youth (50.5% female; 46.2% Black/African American, 44.9% Hispanic/Latino, 6.9% Asian or Native American/Alaska Native, and 2.1% Non-Hispanic White). Specifically, this study examined (1) the effect of home chaos and poor parental monitoring on adolescent primary and secondary psychopathy and callous-unemotional traits through the lens of multiple reporters, and (2) whether classroom climate quality across three years of childhood moderated these relationships. The results indicated that delinquency and home chaos in childhood were related to primary psychopathy in adolescence and that exposure to higher quality classroom climates across childhood acted as a buffer by mitigating the negative relationship between parental monitoring in childhood and secondary psychopathy in adolescence. These findings have implications for designing interventions to mitigate the manifestation of youth psychopathy.

Migration and Parental Absence: A Comparative Assessment of Transnational Families in Latin America.

Despite growing research on transnational families and children's welfare in migrant-sending countries, there is a dearth of information about the prevalence of, what we call, parental absence via migration, especially relative to other sources of parental absence, and a lack of estimates that are comparable across populations and places. This makes it difficult to determine the scale for policy interventions, and to justify future research on transnational families and children's welfare. Using harmonized surveys covering eight Latin American countries and Puerto Rico, validated by nationally representative census and survey data, we provide the first estimates of the prevalence parental absence via migration that are comparable across populations in contemporary Latin America. We show that between 7 and 21 percent of children live in transnational families where parents are absent because of migration. We compare our estimates to similar estimates of parental absence from other sources, and show that, in several populations, more children are experiencing parental absence due to migration than to union dissolution or parental mortality. Finally, we link our descriptive work to children's welfare by examining the characteristics of children's home environments when parents migrate. Children living in families with absent parents due to migration are less likely to coreside with extended family members, and to fare better in terms of household assets, relative to children living in other family forms. We conclude by highlighting the limitations of the data, and underscore the value of attempts to estimate the prevalence of parental absence via migration.

The Interplay between Genes and Psychosocial Home Environment on Physical Activity.

Genetic factors contribute to individual differences in physical activity, but it remains uncertain whether the magnitude of the genetic effects is modified by variations in home environments. We aimed to examine to what extent the psychosocial home environment in childhood and adolescence modifies the genetic influences on leisure time physical activity in young adulthood. Participants were Finnish twins (N = 3305) who reported their leisure time physical activity at age 24 yr. The psychosocial home environment was assessed by twins at ages 12, 14, and 17 yr, as well as by their parents when the twins were age 12 yr. Gene-environment interaction modeling was performed with OpenMx software. Parental ratings of positive home atmosphere as well as the twins' ratings of both positive home atmosphere at age 14 yr and lower relational tensions at ages 12 and 14 yr predicted higher leisure time physical activity levels in young adulthood (regression coefficients = 0.33-0.64). Parental perceptions as well as the twins' perceptions of positive home atmosphere at ages 14 and 17 yr increased the additive genetic variation (moderation effects: 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.29-0.80; 0.60, 95% CI = 0.26-1.05; and 0.52, 95% CI = 0.19-0.87, respectively). The twins' ratings of positive home atmosphere at age 12 yr and lower relational tensions at ages 12 and 14 yr increased the unique environmental variation of their subsequent physical activity (moderation effects: 0.46, 95% CI = 0.19-0.60; 0.48, 95% CI = 0.29-0.64; and 0.85, 95% CI = 0.12-0.95, respectively). A psychosocial home environment that is warm and supportive in childhood and adolescence not only increases the mean level of subsequent leisure time physical activity in young adulthood but also modifies the genetic and environmental variances in leisure time physical activity.

Concurrent child history and contextual predictors of children's internalizing and externalizing behavior problems in foster care

This study contributes to current research on the behavior problems of children in foster care by analyzing a more comprehensive set of concurrent child history and contextual predictors. Kinship home status and sibling status (i.e., whether the sibling is a biological sibling to the foster child) were evaluated as moderators of significant associations. Data were collected at the baseline of a foster parent training intervention program prior to any intervention services using parent phone interviews (N=310, 51.6% male, M age=7.57years). Two linear hierarchical regressions were used to evaluate each set of predictors' association with behavior problems as well as each individual predictor's contribution. Results indicated that as a set, the contextual variables predicted a significant and unique amount of variability in the child's internalizing and externalizing behavior scores, whereas the child history variables did not. Specifically, the child's placement in a non-kinship home, being in a non-ethnically matched child-parent pair, higher parent stress scores, a greater number of prior group home placements, and higher internalizing behavior scores for the child predicted higher child externalizing scores. Higher parent stress scores, higher focal sibling externalizing behavior scores, and higher externalizing behavior scores for the child predicted higher internalizing scores for the child. The association between focal sibling externalizing behavior scores and child internalizing scores was moderated by kinship home status, such that there was a stronger association between the focal sibling's externalizing score and the child's internalizing score if the child was in a kinship compared to a non-kinship home. Implications for intervention services are discussed, particularly the importance of assessing the child's foster home environment when addressing the child's behavior problems.

A qualitative study conducted in the USA exploring Latino fathers' beliefs, attitudes and practices related to their young children's eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours.

Increasing evidence documents fathers' influential role in their children's eating, physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviours (SB). We aimed to expand limited existing research examining fathers' influence in these areas by exploring Latino fathers' beliefs, attitudes and practices related to eating, PA and SB of their young children. Seven focus group discussions were conducted in Spanish with Latino fathers (n 28) of children aged 2-8 years. Audio recordings were transcribed and translated verbatim without identifiers. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify key concepts and themes using NVivo 11 software. Fathers expressed positive beliefs and attitudes about the importance of healthy eating for their young children, themselves and their families. Nevertheless, the majority reported familial practices including eating out, getting take-out, etc. that have been linked to increased obesity risk among Latino children. Fathers were more involved and engaged in children's PA than eating and feeding. However, several fathers reported engaging predominantly in sedentary activities with their children, appeared permissive of children's sedentary habits and struggled to set limits on children's screen-time. We provide new information on Latino fathers' beliefs and child feeding and PA practices that may provide important targets for interventions aimed at promoting healthful eating and PA behaviours of Latino children. Future research should further quantify the influence of Latino fathers' parenting styles and practices on development of children's eating, PA and SB. This information is needed to identify risk factors amenable to interventions and to design culturally appropriate parenting and family-based interventions targeting Latino children's home environment and designed to meet this ethnic group's specific needs.

Parental Arrest, Incarceration and the Outcomes of Their Children

Parental arrest and incarceration represents a profound and traumatic experience for almost 3 million children in the U.S. and scholars in criminology and sociology consistently find negative impacts on children across a range of academic and behavioral outcomes. The research presented here provides evidence that parental arrest coincides with negative outcomes for children, but that the incarceration of a parent may benefit the child. Benefits occur for end-of-grade exams and behavioral (e.g. suspensions, absences) outcomes with positive effects concentrated among young children with mothers that commit violent crimes or fathers with alcohol/drug offenses. Results suggest that parental incarceration leads to the removal of a negative role model and changes in a child's home environment due to household reformation.

Sibling gender and wage differences

ABSTRACTFamily influences on economic performance are investigated. In particular, sibship sex composition is related to hourly wages using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. The wages of men are increasing in the proportion of siblings who are brothers, but the wages of women are insensitive to sibling gender. Nonwage outcomes are generally unaffected. Contrasts by age structure and demographic group are also presented. The analysis addresses econometric challenges like the endogeneity of fertility and selection into the workforce. In addition, mechanisms such as labour market interactions, human capital investment and role model effects are documented. A questionnaire on job search indicates a same-gender bias in the use of brothers and sisters in obtaining employment. Developmental and psychological assessments suggest that brothers may be associated with worse childhood home environments and more traditional family attitudes among women. The findings are policy relevant and contribute to an understanding of gender differences and earnings inequality.

Mothers' Time, the Parenting Package, and Links to Healthy Child Development.

Studies consistently show that mothers' time in particular activities with children is positively associated with child well-being, but results are mixed regarding associations between child outcomes and the sheer amount of time that mothers spend with children. Using time diary and survey data from three waves of the Panel Study of Income Dynamics Child Development Supplement (N = 2,622), we assess whether gains from mothers' total time with children vary by the quality of mothers' other investments in children, or the "parenting package." Mother-child shared time was associated with children's broad reading scores and adolescents' externalizing behavior, but mothers' other parenting investments did not moderate these associations. Results were robust to alternative measures of mothers' time and to the incorporation of earlier assessments of child academic and behavior problems. Parenting investments may be indicative of the quality of children's home environments but do not magnify gains from mother-child shared time.

Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: An open randomized controlled trial.

Infant colic (IC) is a prevalent physiological event of infants, which can disrupt the child's home environment. We aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a mixture of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) compared with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and with simethicone for the treatment of IC. A multicenter randomized comparative study was conducted in infants with colic, according to Rome III criteria, who were randomly assigned to receive M.chamomilla L., M.officinalis L. and tyndallized L.acidophilus (HA122) (Colimil® Plus® ; Milte Italia Spa, Milan, Italy) (Group A), L.reuteri DSM 17938 (Group B) and simethicone (Group C). Treatment was given to subjects for 28days. One-hundred and seventy-six patients completed the study. Mean daily crying time at day 28 was significantly lower in group A (-44, 95% CI: -58 to -30, P<.001) and group B (-35, 95% CI: -49 to -20, P<.001) when compared to group C. No significant difference was observed between Group A and Group B (mean difference: -9minutes, 95% CI -23 to +5, P=.205). At day 28, 39 of 57 (68.4%) of infants in Group C responded to the treatment compared with 57 out of 60 patients (95%) of Group A and 51 out of 59 (86.4%) of Group B (P<.001). This study suggests that administration of M.chamomilla L., M.officinalis L. and tyndallized L.acidophilus (HA122) and L.reuteri DSM 17938 are significantly more effective than simethicone in IC. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02708238.

Opportunities for motor stimulation in the home environment of children

Introduction: The environment in which the child is inserted and motor opportunities offered to this is essential for a good motor development Objective: To analyze the relationship between the motor stimulation opportunities in the family environment and children's motor development of both sex. Method: were evaluated 72 children, 33 boys and 39 girls with age of 38 to 42 months. The evaluation was conducted by Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development (AHEMD) and the Test of Gross Motor Development-2 (TGMD-2). Were used the tests Chi-square, Fisher exact test, t test for independent samples, Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression. Results: In general, the households have low opportunities for motor stimulation, and for households with boys the score is higher. The girls performed better in locomotor skills, while boys had higher scores on object control skills. It found a significant correlation to motricity materials and thick materials motor for boys and variety of stimulation, fine motor materials, motricity materials and motor stimulation for girls. For the boys the motor performance is explained by the available variables of fine and gross motor skills and for the girls by materials of motor stimulation, stimulation variety and materials of fine and gross motor skills. Conclusion: On the presented results we can conclude that the home environment is directly related to the motor development of girls and boys.

Nursing-led Home Visits Post-hospitalization for Children with Medical Complexity

PurposeHospital discharge for children with medical complexity (CMC) can be challenging for families. Home visits could potentially benefit CMC and their families after leaving the hospital. We assessed the utility of post-discharge home visits to identify and address health problems for recently hospitalized CMC. Design and MethodsA prospective study of 36 CMC admitted to a children's hospital from 4/15/2015 to 4/14/2016 identified with a possible high risk of hospital readmission and offered a post-discharge home visit within 72h of discharge. The visit was staffed by a hospital nurse familiar with the child's admission. The home visit goals were to reinforce education of the discharge plan, assess the child's home environment, and identify and address any problems or issues that emerged post-discharge. ResultsThe children's median age was 6years [interquartile range (IQR) 2–18]. The median distance from hospital to their home was 38miles (IQR 8–78). All (n=36) children had multiple chronic conditions; 89% (n=32) were assisted with medical technology. The nurse identified and helped with a post-discharge problem during every (n=36) visit. Of the 147 problems identified, 26.5% (n=39) pertained to social/family issues (e.g., financial instability), 23.8% (n=35) medications (e.g., wrong dose), 20.4% (n=30) durable medical equipment (e.g., insufficient supply or faulty function), 20.4% (n=30) child's home environment (e.g., unsafe sleeping arrangement), and 8.8% (n=13) child's health (e.g., unresolved health problem). ConclusionsHome visits helped identify and address post-discharge issues that occurred for discharged CMC. Practical ImplicationsHospitals should consider home visits when optimizing discharge care for CMC.