Household Chaos, Hostile Parenting, and Adolescents' Well-Being Two Years Later

We assessed the relationship between household chaos at grade 10 and adolescent well-being (depression, problematic substance use, and physical health) two years later in a sample of rural youth living in economically-vulnerable communities. Also, we evaluated whether household chaos moderated the effect of hostile parenting on adolescent the mental, physical, and behavioral health. Adolescents (N = 238; M age = 15.59; 55% female) completed questionnaires at school in grade 10 and again two years later. Adolescents' perceptions of household chaos at grade 10 were associated with increased problematic substance use (B = .23, p < .05) and worse physical health (B = .17, p < .05) two years later. Household chaos moderated the effect of hostile parenting (B = .13, p < .05), such that the effect of hostile parenting on adolescents' depression two years later was exacerbated in highly chaotic households. Reduction in household chaos through routine, stability and organization along with a focus on warm and supportive parenting are important for healthy adolescent mental, physical and behavioral health.