Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:36
An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Conduct problems, IQ, and household chaos: a longitudinal multi-informant study
Kirby Deater-Deckard1, Paula Y Mullineaux, Charles Beekman
1Department of Psychology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. kirbydd@vt.edu
Summary
High household chaos is linked to lower child IQ and more behavioral issues. This study controlled for many factors, showing chaos impacts cognitive and conduct development over time.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Child Psychiatry
- Family Studies
Background:
- Household chaos, characterized by disorganization and unpredictability, is a potential environmental stressor for children.
- Previous research suggests a link between adverse home environments and child developmental outcomes.
- The specific impact of household chaos on child cognitive and behavioral functioning requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that household chaos is associated with lower child IQ and increased conduct problems.
- To examine these associations concurrently and longitudinally over a two-year period.
- To control for confounding variables including housing conditions, parental education/IQ, home literacy, parental warmth/negativity, and stressful life events.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study involving 302 families with same-sex twins (Kindergarten/1st grade at baseline).
- Data collected via parent and observer ratings over a two-year period.
- Statistical analyses controlled for multiple home environment factors.
Main Results:
- Household chaos exhibited wide variation, high stability, and agreement between parents.
- Chaos was significantly correlated with poorer housing, lower parental education/IQ, less optimal home literacy, higher stress, and less parental warmth.
- Household chaos independently predicted lower child IQ and more conduct problems, even after accounting for other environmental factors.
Conclusions:
- Higher levels of household chaos are concurrently associated with lower child IQ.
- Household chaos is linked concurrently and longitudinally to increased child conduct problems.
- Parent-reported household chaos is a significant indicator of family functioning impacting children's cognitive and behavioral development.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Conduct Disorder
Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
02:30Naturalistic Observations
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
01:11Observational Studies
Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not influence the response variable or the experiment's outcome.
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
There are three types of observational studies – Prospective, retrospective, and cross-sectional.
Prospective Study
Prospective studies, also known as longitudinal or cohort studies, are carried out by collecting future data from groups sharing similar characteristics. One example of...
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children from...
01:15Causes of Social Behavior II: Cognitive Processes
Cognitive processes affect social behavior by guiding how individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to social stimuli. These mental processes enable individuals to assess others' behaviors, attribute causes to their actions, and form expectations based on past experiences.Causes of Behavior and Social JudgmentsIndividuals determine the causes of others' behaviors by distinguishing between personal traits and external circumstances. For example, if a friend frequently arrives late, an...
01:26Longitudinal Studies
Longitudinal studies are also widely used in other medical and social science fields. For instance, in cardiovascular research, they can monitor patients' health over decades to identify risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or smoking, and evaluate the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures. Similarly, in mental health studies, researchers might follow individuals from adolescence into adulthood to understand the development and progression of conditions like...