Examining the effects of household chaos on child executive functions: A meta-analysis.

Abstract

Household chaos—characterized by disorganization and instability within the home—is inversely associated with child executive functioning and effortful control, although a quantitative synthesis of the findings is currently lacking. This meta-analysis incorporated 35 studies with 36 independent effect sizes including 16,480 children. Several moderators were assessed, the most fundamental involving method (i.e., informant-completed questionnaire vs. direct assessment) of assessing executive functions. The analyses revealed a significant overall effect of r = .16. Only measurement approach of executive functions significantly moderated this association: Informant-completed questionnaires yielded an effect of r = .23, as compared with direct assessment, r = .11; however, both effects were significant. Based on substantive and statistical considerations, questionnaire and direct assessment effects were then meta-analyzed separately. Although effect sizes proved heterogeneous in the context of questionnaires, analyses revealed no significant moderators. Within direct assessment effects, both household chaos dimensions were significantly related to child executive functions, but instability was a stronger correlate (r = .17) than disorganization (r = .06). Results highlight the need for fuller investigation of differences in construct measurement presented by questionnaire and direct assessment approaches to child executive functions. At present, it appears prudent to adopt a multimethod approach to assessment. Ultimately, a greater focus on quasi-experimental designs examining the mechanisms by which events destabilize child executive functions is essential to a rigorous understanding of the relation between environmental features and child cognitive function.

Effects of household chaos and parental responsiveness on child executive functions: a novel, multi-method approach

“…Household instability emerged as a potentially important adverse predictor of child executive functions both directly and indirectly via parental responsiveness. The direct association between household instability and child executive functions is aligned with other studies [ 17 , 20 , 75 ]. However, examination of the indirect effect has been sparse.…”

“…Separating the dimensions of household chaos demonstrated that instability, and not disorganization, had a negative association with child executive functions, both directly and via parental responsiveness. Greater chaos in the home has been previously linked to deficits in executive functions measured via direct assessments [10,15] and questionnaires [17,72]. Children may be withdrawing from uncontrollable environmental stimuli, in chaotic households [73], and while this may be protective against threats, it can constrain exposure to positive influences, thereby reducing opportunities for important interactions that promote executive function development.…”

“…frequent changes in residence, household occupants and routines) [ 11 – 13 ]. Most studies have assessed household chaos via parental report using the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) [ 14 ] and have demonstrated adverse effects on executive functions including inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory [ 15 – 17 ].…”

The role of household chaos on levels and trajectories of socioemotional behavior in the second year.

“…Children in their second year may not have the capacity to filter out stressful stimuli created by chaotic environments, the cumulative effect of which could be the development of a rudimentary sense of ineffectiveness in controlling events within the home environment, particularly adverse events, and over time, disrupting the development of adaptive regulatory skills (Hardaway et al, 2012; Wachs & Evans, 2010). Alternatively, higher levels of HC may predispose children to shift attention away from overstimulating events in the environment and, in turn, reducing opportunities to benefit from potentially important aspects of socialization (Andrews et al, 2021; Evans, 2006). Chronic exposure to disorganization in one’s environment, especially during the developmental period when cognitive and emotional advances coincide with the emergence of long-term memory (Lukowski & Bauer, 2014), may result in becoming habituated to the chaotic environment, which may further debilitate healthy behavioral adjustment.…”

A Mixed Methods Analysis of Environmental and Household Chaos: Implications for Childhood Obesity Prevention Through Toddlerhood

“…For example, the distracting and overstimulating nature of chaotic environments may impede children's developing selfregulatory skills. A recent meta-analysis concluded household chaos and executive functions, like selfregulation, are signi cantly and inversely related [29]. Such relationships are important, as self-regulatory skills, including inhibitory control and emotion regulation, may be protective against childhood obesity development [30].…”