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Association between the home environment and development among 3- to 11-month infants in Shanghai, China

Zhijuan Cao1, Xiujuan Su1, Yu Ni2

  • 1Department of Women & Children's Health Care, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Child: Care, Health and Development
|July 28, 2021
PubMed

Insights

A study found that a stimulating home environment in Shanghai, China, positively impacts infant development. Ensuring sufficient physical space and varied toys is crucial for preventing developmental delays in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Child Development
  • Environmental Psychology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • The home environment significantly influences child development, yet data on China's home environments and infant development is limited.
  • This study addresses the gap by investigating the association between home environment factors and early infant development in China.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between the home environment and early developmental outcomes in infants aged 3-11 months in Shanghai, China.
  • To identify specific home environment characteristics associated with potential developmental delays.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey of 1850 infants (3-11 months) in Shanghai.
  • The Affordances in the Home Environment for Motor Development-Infant Scale (AHEMD-IS) assessed toys, space, and stimulation.
  • The Age and Stage Questionnaire-Chinese (ASQ-C) identified developmental delays. Bivariate logistic regression analyzed associations.

Main Results:

  • 25-30% of infants had insufficient activity space. While toy availability increased with age, stimulation variety decreased.
  • Limited physical space was linked to a 26% increased risk of problem-solving delays.
  • Sufficient stimulation variety reduced gross motor delay risk by 47%. Fine-motor toys benefited most developmental domains except communication.

Conclusions:

  • A positive home environment is associated with better development in infants aged 3-11 months in Shanghai.
  • Findings support targeted interventions for families, particularly those in disadvantaged environments, to promote optimal early childhood development.
Abstract

Keywords:
AHEMD-ISASQ-Caffordancesdevelopmenthome environmentinfant

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