Household chaos and parenting: The effect of household chaos does not depend on sensory-processing sensitivity and self-regulation.

Previous studies have found evidence for a causal effect of household chaos on parenting and suggest that this effect may be stronger for parents with higher sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS) or lower self-regulation. This study investigates whether primary caregivers of children around age 1.5-2 years show greater improvement in parenting after a decrease in household chaos if parents have higher SPS or lower self-regulation. The study employs a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with an intervention aimed at reducing household chaos. A total of 125 parents of toddlers participated in the study. All participants were living in the Netherlands at the time of the study, 89% identified with the Dutch ethnicity and 11% with a non-Dutch ethnicity. Self-report as well as objective measures were used, including videotaped parent-child interactions and home observations. The effect of the intervention on parenting did not depend on SPS or self-regulation. When studying the relation between change in measures of household chaos and posttest parenting, decreased self-reported household chaos was related to less harsh discipline in parents with higher self-regulation, and to more harsh discipline in parents with lower self-regulation. However, this is a tentative finding that should be further explored in future research.

Estudios anteriores han encontrado evidencia de un efecto casual del caos en el hogar sobre la crianza y sugieren que este efecto pudiera ser más fuerte para progenitores con una más alta sensibilidad del proceso sensorial (SPS) o más baja autorregulación. Este estudio investiga si quienes primariamente cuidan a los niños de alrededor de 1.5-2 años muestran un más alto nivel de mejoras en la crianza después de una disminución en el caos del hogar si los progenitores poseen un alto nivel de SPS o baja autorregulación. El estudio emplea un diseño RCT con una intervención dirigida a reducir el caos en el hogar. En el estudio participaron 125 progenitores de niños pequeñitos. Todos los participantes vivían en Holanda al momento del estudio, 89% se identificaba con la etnicidad holandesa y 11% con una etnicidad no holandesa. Se usaron auto reportes, así como medidas de objetivos, incluyendo interacciones entre progenitor y niño grabadas en video y observaciones en casa. El efecto de la intervención sobre la crianza no dependió de SPS o de la autorregulación. Cuando se estudiaba la relación entre el cambio en las medidas del caos en el hogar y la crianza posterior a la prueba, la disminución del auto reportado caos en el hogar se relacionó con menos disciplina dura en progenitores con más alta autorregulación, así como con más disciplina dura en progenitores con más baja autorregulación. Sin embargo, se trata de un resultado tentativo que se debe explorar más en la futura investigación.

Des études précédentes ont trouvé peu de preuves à un effet de cause du chaos domestique sur le parentage et suggèrent que cet effet pourrait être plus fort pour les parents avec une sensibilité du traitement sensoriel (STS) plus élevée et une auto-régulation plus faible. Cette étude évalue si les personnes prenant soin des enfants autour de l'âge de 1,5-2 ans font preuve d'une plus grande amélioration dans le parentage avec moins de chaos domestique si les parents ont une STS plus élevée ou une autorégulation plus basse. Cette étude a employé un plan ECR avec une intervention destinée à réduire le chaos domestique. 125 parents de jeunes enfants ont participé à l'étude. Tous les participants vivaient aux Pays Bas au moment de l'étude, 89% s'identifiant comme d'ethnicité hollandaise et 11% d'ethnicité non hollandaise. Des auto-évaluations ainsi que des mesures objectives ont été utilisées, en utilisant des interactions parent-enfant filmées à la vidéo et des observations à domicile. L'effet de l'intervention sur le parentage n'a pas dépendu de la STS ou de l'auto-régulation. En étudiant la relation entre le changement dans les mesures de chaos domestique et de parentage posttest, le chaos autosignalé décru à une discipline moins sévère chez les parents avec une autorégulation plus élevée, et à une discipline plus sévère chez les parents avec une autorégulation moins élevée. Cependant c'est une constatation tentative qui devrait être explorée plus profondément dans des recherches futures.

What About the Children? Co-Occurrence of Child Maltreatment and Parental Separation.

The aim of this study was to investigate (a) the extent to which child maltreatment co-occurs with parental separation and (b) associations between different types of child maltreatment and various types of separation-associated interparental conflict. Professionals working with children (N = 785) reported each case of suspected child maltreatment they observed during a 3-month period and indicated whether parental divorce or separation was about to take place or had taken place. This resulted in 530 reported cases that matched the definitions of child maltreatment for which information on parental relationship status was available. Most of the maltreated children (60%) also experienced (impending) parental separation. In 69% of these cases child maltreatment was associated with parental separation. Particularly, cases of emotional neglect, and emotional abuse co-occurred with parental separation. In addition, four clusters of separation-associated interparental conflict were distinguished- No observed conflict, Non-physical conflict, Verbal and physical conflict, and Multiple conflict-which were associated with child and family characteristics and specific types of child maltreatment. The results of this study suggest that child maltreatment often co-occurs with parental separation, especially when there is a considerable amount of interparental conflict.

The causal effect of household chaos on stress and caregiving: An experimental study.

The correlational nature of previous studies on household chaos does not allow claims about causal effects of household chaos. The present study used an experimental design to assess the causal effect of household chaos on stress, negative emotions, and caregiving. Ninety-six female students (18-25 years) participated in our study. They took care of an infant simulator in a normal living room (neutral condition), and a chaotic living room (chaos condition), while caregiver sensitivity was observed, operationalized as perceiving, correctly interpreting, and responding accurately and promptly to the infant's signals. Participants reported on their current emotional state, and saliva was collected four times for analysis of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA). Results showed that there were no significant time or condition effects on negative emotional state. Yet, sAA levels were higher in the chaos condition compared to the neutral condition. We found no evidence for negative emotional state or sAA mediating the relation between household chaos and caregiver sensitivity. Because household chaos affected physiological stress in a parenting situation, it should not be ignored when using interventions aimed at reducing stress in parents. More research is needed on the effect of reduced (as opposed to increased) levels of household chaos on physiological stress levels in families with young children.

Does sensory-processing sensitivity moderate the effect of household chaos on caregiver sensitivity? An experimental design.

Previous research has linked higher levels of household chaos to parenting problems, but it is not clear whether household chaos actually causes parenting problems. In this study, we used an experimental design in which levels of household chaos were manipulated to test the effect of household chaos on caregiver sensitivity. As sensory-processing sensitivity has been linked to the perception of household chaos, we also tested whether household chaos has a stronger effect on participants with higher sensory-processing sensitivity. Ninety-six young adults (nonparents) visited our lab twice and took care of an infant simulator in a lab furnished like a living room. In the neutral condition the room was orderly and calm, and in the chaos condition it was cluttered, noisy and smaller (order counterbalanced). Caregiver sensitivity was observed, and sensory-processing sensitivity was measured through questionnaires and observational data. Multilevel modeling showed caregiver sensitivity decreased over time in both conditions and that condition had a small effect on caregiver sensitivity, with sensitivity being lower in the chaos condition. We found that participants with higher sensory sensitivity decreased faster in the chaos condition than in the neutral condition. According to our findings, household chaos leads to less positive caregiving behavior and parents with higher sensory sensitivity may be more affected by household chaos. Thus, reducing household chaos may be effective in promoting positive parenting. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Sensitive parenting in urban slums in Makassar, Indonesia: the roles of experienced child maltreatment and sociodemographic risk.

In the context of urban slums in Makassar in Indonesia, this study aimed to test whether maternal sensitivity was associated with maternal history of childhood maltreatment, and whether this association was mediated by current partner conflict and current cumulative sociodemographic risk. A total of 98 mothers and their 2-4 year-old children were videotaped in a naturalistic observation. Maternal sensitivity was coded using the Ainsworth scales. In addition, mothers were interviewed to assess childhood trauma, current partner conflict, and current sociodemographic risk. There was a significant negative correlation between maternal experienced childhood maltreatment and observed maternal sensitivity. Current partner conflict and sociodemographic did not mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and maternal sensitivity.

Prevalence of child maltreatment in the Netherlands: An update and cross-time comparison.

BACKGROUND: The third Netherlands' Prevalence study of Maltreatment of children and youth (NPM-2017) continues the tradition of periodically mapping the national prevalence of child maltreatment. OBJECTIVE: The NPM-2017 provides an update of the current prevalence rates of child maltreatment and of changes in its prevalence over the last 12 years. In addition, risk factors for child maltreatment and its co-occurrence with domestic violence were investigated. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Prevalence data were based on cases reported to 'Safe at Home' organizations (former CPS agencies) and observations of professionals working with children (sentinels). METHODS: Sentinels (N = 785) filled out a form for each case of suspected child maltreatment that they observed within their professional sample during a three-month period. RESULTS: An overall prevalence estimate of child maltreatment in the Netherlands in 2017 of 26-37 per 1000 children was computed. The most important risk factors for child maltreatment were low parental education (RR=4.95), parental unemployment (RR = 3.64), immigrant status (RR = 3.61), and single parenthood (RR = 2.29). Neither prevalence rates nor risk factors changed significantly between 2005, 2010, and 2017. Finally, in 46 % of the reported families child maltreatment occurred in a context of domestic violence. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of co-occurring domestic violence may indicate that family violence observed within one dyad could be a marker for dysfunctional functioning of the family system. Child maltreatment remains a considerable problem in the Netherlands with a stable prevalence over the last 12 years and stability in characteristics that make families vulnerable for child maltreatment.

Maternal Harsh Physical Parenting and Behavioral Problems in Children in Religious Families in Yemen.

The present study examined maternal religiosity as an underlying cultural factor in the effect of harsh physical parenting on child behavioral problems. Data was collected via a discipline observational task, religiosity-based vignettes, and a questionnaire in a group of 62 mothers and their children in slum areas in Yemen. Moderation and mediation models were tested, where the role of maternal religiosity as a predictor and a moderator in the association between harsh physical parenting and child behavioral problems was explored. Findings showed no direct association between harsh physical parenting, maternal religiosity, and child behavioral problems. However, maternal religiosity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between harsh physical parenting and child behavioral problems such that the positive association between harsh physical parenting and child behavior problems was stronger when parents were more religious. Implications of the moderating role of maternal religiosity on the association between harsh physical parenting and child behavioral problems are discussed.

Observing sensitivity in slums in Yemen: the veiled challenge.

This study represents the first video observation of parenting practices conducted in Yemen, where filming women is a taboo, and women are generally fully veiled, showing only their eyes, in the presence of strangers. A total of 62 mothers and children (aged 2-6 years) were filmed in their homes for 15 min during free interaction. The mothers' veils were not experienced as hampering the coding of sensitivity. Consistent with the socioeconomically deprived context, average sensitivity levels were low, but over 25% of mothers were rated as (very) sensitive. About half of the mothers elected to have their child do household chores, which in turn was related to lower levels of sensitivity. Observations revealed frequent looking at the camera. Almost half of the mothers verbally expressed insecurity about the videotaping, and a third expressed awareness of being filmed. Interestingly however, these behaviors were unrelated to Ainsworth ratings of maternal sensitivity.

Predictors of sensitive parenting in urban slums in Makassar, Indonesia.

In the context of urban slums in Makassar in Indonesia, this study aimed to test whether maternal sensitivity was predicted by maternal history of childhood maltreatment, and whether this association was mediated by current partner conflict and current cumulative sociodemographic risk. A total of 98 mothers and their 2-4-year-old children were videotaped in a naturalistic observation. Maternal sensitivity was coded using the Ainsworth scales. In addition, mothers were interviewed to assess childhood trauma, current partner conflict, and current sociodemographic risk. There was a significant negative correlation between maternal experienced childhood maltreatment and observed maternal sensitivity. Current partner conflict and sociodemographic risk did not mediate the association between childhood maltreatment and maternal sensitivity.

Predicting ethnic minority children's vocabulary from socioeconomic status, maternal language and home reading input: different pathways for host and ethnic language.

When bilingual children enter formal reading education, host language proficiency becomes increasingly important. This study investigated the relation between socioeconomic status (SES), maternal language use, reading input, and vocabulary in a sample of 111 six-year-old children of first- and second-generation Turkish immigrant parents in the Netherlands. Mothers reported on their language use with the child, frequency of reading by both parents, and availability of children's books in the ethnic and the host language. Children's Dutch and Turkish vocabulary were tested during a home visit. SES was related to maternal language use and to host language reading input. Reading input mediated the relation between SES and host language vocabulary and between maternal language use and host language vocabulary, whereas only maternal language use was related to ethnic language vocabulary. During transition to formal reading education, one should be aware that children from low-SES families receive less host language reading input.

Socioeconomic status and parenting in ethnic minority families: testing a minority family stress model.

According to the family stress model (Conger & Donnellan, 2007), low socioeconomic status (SES) predicts less-than-optimal parenting through family stress. Minority families generally come from lower SES backgrounds than majority families, and may experience additional stressors associated with their minority status, such as acculturation stress. The primary goal of this study was to test a minority family stress model with a general family stress pathway, as well as a pathway specific to ethnic minority families. The sample consisted of 107 Turkish-Dutch mothers and their 5- to 6-year-old children, and positive parenting was observed during a 7-min problem-solving task. In addition, mothers reported their daily hassles, psychological distress, and acculturation stress. The relation between SES and positive parenting was partially mediated by both general maternal psychological stress and maternal acculturation stress. Our study contributes to the argument that stressors specific to minority status should be considered in addition to more general demographic and family stressors in understanding parenting behavior in ethnic minority families.