Child mental health issues and poverty.

Poverty can threaten children’s mental health (Brooks-Gunn, Duncan, 1997) through exposure to a range of many different things. These may include: poor housing, homelessness, multiple moves from one residence (and school), lack of health insurance (Cowen, Wyman, Work, Kim, Fagen, Magnus, 1997) (Dubow, Edwards, Ippolito, 1997) and the stress that parents experience while raising a family in poverty, all these things can lead to harsh or non-contingent punishment, poor parental supervision, or lack of warmth and love. (Bor, Najman, Anderson, O’Callaghan, Williams, Behrens.1997) (Sampson, Laub.1994)


Children of homeless families are at risk of a number of mental health issues. Research says that children who are exposed to violence and aggression experience higher rates of social isolation and relationship problems. (Anooshian, 2005) Children of women who are victims of domestic abuse also have higher rates of depression and behavior problems with school and peers.

Dr. Lisa Strohschein says “antisocial behaviour is an example of biological embedding--it is possible that poverty early in life helps to set into motion a consistent pattern of antisocial behaviours that are difficult to change once learned.”

When homeless children aged 6-17 years were compared with peers, higher rates of mental disorders did exist. (Morris, Strong, 2004) As a result of being homeless, families and children have limited or no access for referrals that might usually occur through a family practice or school setting. (Tischler, Karim, Rustall, Gregory, Vostanis 2004) the lack of support of friends or family also reduces availability of support systems outside the immediate family (Morris, Butt, 2003)


Children living in poverty were more likely than non-poor children to have a psychiatric disorder.
Children's needs for consistency and well-handled transitions are not met in these situations. We should not be surprised that poor outcomes of learning and social development accompany family poverty.


-Jessica

References:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060206171449.htm

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/child-myths/201002/more-about-poverty-and-childrens-mental-health

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/290/15/2023.full.pdf+html

R Morris and L Strong, The impact of homelessness on the health of families. J Sch Nurs, 20 4 (2004), pp. 221–227.

LJ Anooshian, Violence and aggression in the lives of homeless children. J Fam Violence, 20 (2005), pp. 373–387.

R Morris and R Butt, Parents' perspectives on homelessness and its effects on the educational development of their children. J Sch Nurs, 19 1 (2003), pp. 43–50.

V Tischler, K Karim, S Rustall, P Gregory and P Vostanis, A family support service for homeless children and parents: users' perspectives and characteristics. Health Soc Care Community, 12 4 (2004), pp. 327–335.

Brooks-Gunn J, Duncan GJ. The effects of poverty on children. Future Child. 1997;7:55–71.

Bor W, Najman JM, Anderson MJ, O’Callaghan M, Williams GM, Behrens BC. The relationship between low family income and psychological disturbance in young children: an Australian longitudinal study. Aust N Z J Psychiatry. 1997;31:664–675.

Cowen EL, Wyman PA, Work WC, Kim JY, Fagen DB, Magnus KB. Follow-up study of young stress affected and stress-resilient urban children. Dev Psychopathol. 1997;9:565–577

Dubow EF, Edwards S, Ippolito MF. Life stressors, neighborhood disadvantage, and resources: a focus on inner-city children’s adjustment. J Clin Child Psychol. 1997;26:130–144.