Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The home environment provided by the caregivers of a child is an influential single factor for development and well-being. We aimed to compare the quality of the home environment of children at familial high risk of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder with population-based controls.
METHODS: Danish nationwide registers were used to retrieve a cohort of 522 7-year-old children of parents diagnosed with schizophrenia (N = 202), bipolar disorder (N = 120) or none of these diagnoses (N = 200). The home environment was assessed using the Middle Childhood-Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment Inventory (MC-HOME Inventory).
RESULTS: The proportion of children living in home environments that were evaluated not to meet the needs of a 7-year-old child was significantly larger in the two familial high-risk groups. This was true for 21% of the children with familial predisposition for schizophrenia and 7% of children with familial disposition for bipolar disorder.
CONCLUSION: Children born to parents diagnosed with schizophrenia and to a lesser extent bipolar disorder are at an increased risk of growing up in a home environment with an insufficient level of stimulation and support. Identifying families with inadequate home environments is a necessary step towards specialized help and support to at-risk families.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica |
Vol/bind | 140 |
Udgave nummer | 2 |
Sider (fra-til) | 126-134 |
Antal sider | 9 |
ISSN | 0001-690X |
DOI | |
Status | Udgivet - 2019 |