The Effects of Living in Poverty on Child Development Dr. Hilsmier Spring 2014 Brittany Crabtree

Poverty: Poverty is the state of having little to no money or means of support. In recent years, poverty has risen in the United States (Komro, Flay, & Biglan, 2011). The number of children living in poverty in America is higher than in most industrialized nations.

Poverty Rate for Children Poverty among children began rising even before the War on Poverty. Since the 2008 financial crisis childhood poverty has fallen again. Source: years-into-the-war-on-poverty-a-data-portrait/

Main Points The effect of poverty on the mental, emotional, and physical development of children. How families functions within the context of poverty. Strategies for a creating a positive environment within poverty.

Cognitive Development Mental or cognitive development is defined as having age appropriate cognitive skills and executive functioning (Komro et al., 2011). – Vocabulary, language processing skills, numeric awareness Children living in poverty are exposed to 1,500 words less each hour than children that live within a higher SES (Bellafante, 2012).

Emotional Development Emotional development consists of age appropriate social interactions, interpretation of social cues, and the ability to control emotional responses (Komro et al., 2011). Emotional self-regulation is more likely to develop in children who live in an environment with positive interactions and supportive relationships.

Physical Development Children who live in poverty suffer from preventable health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and asthma, at a higher rate than children living with a higher SES (Komro et al., 2011). Major risk factors for these health conditions are prevalent in low-income living conditions because of the lack of money and resources.

Family Functioning The way a family functions plays a major role in how children develop (Mistry & Wadsworth, 2011). When families are under economic strain it can cause unnecessary stress in the lives of both the parents and the children.

Strategies for a Positive Environment Quality and Positive Education Health Education Programs After School Activities

Discussion of Research The current research concerning the effects of poverty on child development is abundant and strong. Issues in child development still exist for children living in poverty even though research has provided many strategies for improvement.

Resources: Bellafante, G. (2012). Before a test, a poverty of words. The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2014, from poor-schoolchildren-a-poverty-of-words.html?_r=1& poor-schoolchildren-a-poverty-of-words.html?_r=1& Komro, K. A., Flay, B. R., & Biglan, A. (2011). Creating nurturing environments: A science-based framework for promoting child health and development within high-poverty neighborhoods. Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review, 14(2), Mistry, R. S., & Wadsworth, M. E. (2011). Family functioning and child development in the context of poverty. Prevention Researcher, 18(4), years-into-the-war-on-poverty-a-data-portrait/