Associations Between Household Chores and Childhood Self-Competency

ABSTRACT: Objective: The development of self-competence and self-efficacy is important to achieving academic, social, and career success. Examining whether performing chores in early elementary school contributes to later self-competence is needed. Methods: We analyzed data from 9971 children participating in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten 2011 cohort entering kindergarten in the United States in 2010 to 2011. During kindergarten, parents reported the frequency with which their child performed chores. In the third grade, children responded to a questionnaire regarding their perceived interest or competence in academics, peer relationships, prosocial behavior, and life satisfaction. Children also completed direct academic assessments for reading, math, and science. Data were analyzed using linear and logistical regressions, adjusting for possible confounders. Results: The frequency of chores in kindergarten was positively associated with a child's perception of social, academic, and life satisfaction competencies in the third grade, independent of sex, family income, and parent education (all P
Source: Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics - Category: Child Development Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research