Dataset Information

The association between crowding within households and behavioural problems in children: Longitudinal data from the Southampton Women's Survey.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In England, nearly one child in ten lives in overcrowded housing. Crowding is likely to worsen with increasing population size, urbanisation, and the ongoing concerns about housing shortages. Children with behavioural difficulties are at increased risk of mental and physical health problems and poorer employment prospects.

Objective

To test the association between the level of crowding in the home and behavioural problems in children, and to explore what factors might explain the relationship.

Methods

Mothers of 2576 children from the Southampton Women's Survey population-based mother-offspring cohort were interviewed. Crowding was measured at age 2 years by people per room (PPR) and behavioural problems assessed at age 3 years with the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Both were analysed as continuous measures, and multivariable linear regression models were fitted, adjusting for confounding factors: gender, age, single-parent family, maternal education, receipt of benefits, and social class. Potential mediators were assessed with formal mediation analysis.

Results

The characteristics of the sample were broadly representative of the population in England. Median (IQR) SDQ score was 9 (6-12) and PPR was 0.75 (0.6-1). In households that were more crowded, children tended to have more behavioural problems (by 0.20 SDQ points (95% CI 0.08, 0.32) per additional 0.2 PPR, adjusting for confounding factors). This relationship was partially mediated by greater maternal stress, less sleep, and strained parent-child interactions.

Conclusions

Living in a more crowded home was associated with a greater risk of behavioural problems, independent of confounding factors. The findings suggest that improved housing might reduce childhood behavioural problems and that families living in crowded circumstances might benefit from greater support.

SUBMITTER: Marsh R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6563047 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

The association between crowding within households and behavioural problems in children: Longitudinal data from the Southampton Women's Survey.

Marsh Rachael R Salika Theodosia T Crozier Sarah S Robinson Sian S Cooper Cyrus C Godfrey Keith K Inskip Hazel H Baird Janis J

Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 20190429 3

<h4>Background</h4>In England, nearly one child in ten lives in overcrowded housing. Crowding is likely to worsen with increasing population size, urbanisation, and the ongoing concerns about housing shortages. Children with behavioural difficulties are at increased risk of mental and physical health problems and poorer employment prospects.<h4>Objective</h4>To test the association between the level of crowding in the home and behavioural problems in children, and to explore what factors might e ...[more]

PMID: 31034663

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Dataset Information

The association between crowding within households and behavioural problems in children: Longitudinal data from the Southampton Women's Survey.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

The association between crowding within households and behavioural problems in children: Longitudinal data from the Southampton Women's Survey.

Similar Datasets

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