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Attachment, household chaos, and children's health

J Zoe Klemfuss1, Allison R Wallin1, Jodi A Quas1

  • 1Department of Psychology and Social Behavior, University of California, Irvine.

Families, Systems & Health : the Journal of Collaborative Family Healthcare
|November 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Parental attachment styles and household chaos significantly impact children's health. In chaotic homes, insecure parental attachment is linked to poorer child mental and physical health outcomes, including hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Health

Background:

  • Sociocontextual factors are increasingly recognized for their influence on children's behavior.
  • Limited research exists on the combined effects of these factors on child health outcomes.
  • The interplay between parental attachment and household chaos concerning child well-being requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the direct and interactive associations of parental attachment and household chaos.
  • To examine these relationships with preschool-age children's mental and physical health.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-four parents participated in the study.
  • Questionnaires assessed parental attachment styles, household chaos (disorganization and confusion), and children's health functioning.
  • Data analysis explored direct and interactive effects.

Main Results:

  • Parental attachment avoidance and anxiety predicted poorer child mental health, especially in chaotic environments.
  • Parental attachment anxiety, independent of avoidance, predicted poorer child physical health.
  • Combined parental attachment anxiety and household chaos were associated with increased child hospitalizations.

Conclusions:

  • Children's immediate environments, including parental attachment and household chaos, jointly influence mental and physical health.
  • These environmental influences can differ across various health domains.
  • Findings suggest targeted interventions can address multiple facets of child health.
Abstract

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