Family FAQ April 2004

April 2004

Q: I worry about my children. Most of the time, I struggle to stretch our few dollars just to get food on the table. I feel like this constant burden of poverty is weighing my family down and my children are deeply suffering from it. What are some factors that help to alleviate the strain of poverty on children and families?

A:The U.S. leads the world in economic well being, yet 1 in 6 children live in poverty, and children represent the most vulnerable group to poverty in our country. The poverty rate for children with disabilities is even more astonishing with 28% between the ages of 3 and 21 living in poverty. Poverty affects children's social, emotional, and physical development in multiple and complex ways. Additionally, research is showing that poverty has a tremendous impact on the educational outcomes of children, including those with disabilities. Poverty is a topic that should not be left out of the discussion when local communities, states, and our nation attempt to create social and educational policies that promote the well being of all children and families.

Compared with children who live in families with adequate financial resources, children in poverty face a higher risk of developing a variety of socioemotional problems that can include: depression; lower levels of sociability and initiative; poor self-esteem; problematic peer relations; and disruptive classroom behaviors. However, the condition of poverty does not only directly affect children. As you have clearly addressed, poverty is a burden that is felt heavily among all members of a family. The stressful life events and perpetual strain caused by economic scarcity can eat away at parental coping behaviors, creating distress within the family and discord between parents, which can result in parenting practices that are uninvolved, inconsistent, and sometimes harsh. Such parenting practices disrupt parent-child relationships and can affect children's social and emotional well being. But how are we to offer stability, provide for and nurture our children when we ourselves feel emotionally vapid and continually stressed out? When we are consumed with fears of not being able to pay the rent or put food on the table, and we also are suffering from feelings of insecurity, devastation, and depression, how are we to give our children and families the support and encouragement they need for their healthy development? These valid questions should not be ignored and removed from the conversation about the impact of poverty on children. Any small step you can take to reach out to your children, nurture them, and encourage their creativity in spite of the constant burden of poverty is helpful. For example, whatever food there is for lunch, might be more fun to eat on a blanket outside where you and your children can gaze at the clouds and enjoy the nature around you. Brainstorm creative ways to do art projects from materials, such as magazines lying around the apartment, or flowers and leaves in the yard.

While there are many significant, cost-free activities and gestures that we, as caregivers can use to build relationships with our children and to foster their creativity, my hope is that communities and other stakeholders will come together to recognize the hardships experienced by impoverished families. Families living in poverty must have access to positive social support networks, mental health services and economic resources, and opportunities to learn stress-coping models. Increasing support in these areas can help to alleviate parental psychological distress, which can in turn improve parenting practices and parent-child relations. Some factors that have been shown to alleviate the detrimental effects of poverty on children and youth are 1) positive self esteem and a sense of control : research has shown that a sense of self-determination, in which children are able to use personal discretion in decision making and are given interesting, challenging tasks within their families and within their schools, can foster positive self-esteem. It is important for children to feel that their voices and opinions are heard and valued. When children are living in poverty and feel that many of the negative conditions surrounding them and dominating their world are out of their control, possessing a sense of control, self-determination, and decision making in some areas of their life can have much developmental significance; 2) social support network: children who have positive relationships with individuals outside of the family such as a teacher and/or peer have been shown to exhibit less disruptive behaviors and socioemotional problems than children who do not have supportive interpersonal relationships; and 3) positive parenting practices : parents who encourage familial problem-solving, provide appropriate nurturance, involvement, and consistency without using harsh or physical discipline are better able to facilitate positive coping behaviors among children, which is linked to a greater sense of power, positive self esteem and personal efficacy, and active problem solving. So, let your children participate in family decisions so that they feel they are valued participants in the family. Encourage their ideas and dreams-keeping their dreams alive and helping them to believe that these dreams can become a reality, can lead to hope for the whole family.

Sources:

Bull, C. A., Dubois, D. L., Felner, R. D., & Sherman, M. D. (1994). Socioenvironmental experiences, self-esteem and emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22 (3): 371-97.

Eamon, M.K. (2001). The effects of poverty on children's socioemotional development: An ecological systems analysis. Social Work, 46 (3): 256-66.

Eamon, M. K. (2002). Influences and mediators of the effect of poverty on young adolescent depressive symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31 (3): 231-42.

Fujiura, G. T., & Yamaki, K. (2000). Trends in demography of childhood poverty and disability. Exceptional Children, 66 : 187-99.

Park, J., Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. R. (2002). Impacts of poverty on quality of life in families of children with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 68 (2): 151-70.

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

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	April 2004 Q: I worry about my children. Most of the time, I struggle to stretch our few dollars just to get food on the table. I feel like this constant burden of poverty is weighing my family down and my children are deeply suffering from it. What are some factors that help to alleviate the strain of poverty on children and families? A:The U.S. leads the world in economic well being, yet 1 in 6 children live in poverty, and children represent the most vulnerable group to poverty in our country. The poverty rate for children with disabilities is even more astonishing with 28% between the ages of 3 and 21 living in poverty. Poverty affects children's social, emotional, and physical development in multiple and complex ways. Additionally, research is showing that poverty has a tremendous impact on the educational outcomes of children, including those with disabilities. Poverty is a topic that should not be left out of the discussion when local communities, states, and our nation attempt to create social and educational policies that promote the well being of all children and families. Compared with children who live in families with adequate financial resources, children in poverty face a higher risk of developing a variety of socioemotional problems that can include: depression; lower levels of sociability and initiative; poor self-esteem; problematic peer relations; and disruptive classroom behaviors. However, the condition of poverty does not only directly affect children. As you have clearly addressed, poverty is a burden that is felt heavily among all members of a family. The stressful life events and perpetual strain caused by economic scarcity can eat away at parental coping behaviors, creating distress within the family and discord between parents, which can result in parenting practices that are uninvolved, inconsistent, and sometimes harsh. Such parenting practices disrupt parent-child relationships and can affect children's social and emotional well being. But how are we to offer stability, provide for and nurture our children when we ourselves feel emotionally vapid and continually stressed out? When we are consumed with fears of not being able to pay the rent or put food on the table, and we also are suffering from feelings of insecurity, devastation, and depression, how are we to give our children and families the support and encouragement they need for their healthy development? These valid questions should not be ignored and removed from the conversation about the impact of poverty on children. Any small step you can take to reach out to your children, nurture them, and encourage their creativity in spite of the constant burden of poverty is helpful. For example, whatever food there is for lunch, might be more fun to eat on a blanket outside where you and your children can gaze at the clouds and enjoy the nature around you. Brainstorm creative ways to do art projects from materials, such as magazines lying around the apartment, or flowers and leaves in the yard. While there are many significant, cost-free activities and gestures that we, as caregivers can use to build relationships with our children and to foster their creativity, my hope is that communities and other stakeholders will come together to recognize the hardships experienced by impoverished families. Families living in poverty must have access to positive social support networks, mental health services and economic resources, and opportunities to learn stress-coping models. Increasing support in these areas can help to alleviate parental psychological distress, which can in turn improve parenting practices and parent-child relations. Some factors that have been shown to alleviate the detrimental effects of poverty on children and youth are 1) positive self esteem and a sense of control : research has shown that a sense of self-determination, in which children are able to use personal discretion in decision making and are given interesting, challenging tasks within their families and within their schools, can foster positive self-esteem. It is important for children to feel that their voices and opinions are heard and valued. When children are living in poverty and feel that many of the negative conditions surrounding them and dominating their world are out of their control, possessing a sense of control, self-determination, and decision making in some areas of their life can have much developmental significance; 2) social support network: children who have positive relationships with individuals outside of the family such as a teacher and/or peer have been shown to exhibit less disruptive behaviors and socioemotional problems than children who do not have supportive interpersonal relationships; and 3) positive parenting practices : parents who encourage familial problem-solving, provide appropriate nurturance, involvement, and consistency without using harsh or physical discipline are better able to facilitate positive coping behaviors among children, which is linked to a greater sense of power, positive self esteem and personal efficacy, and active problem solving. So, let your children participate in family decisions so that they feel they are valued participants in the family. Encourage their ideas and dreams-keeping their dreams alive and helping them to believe that these dreams can become a reality, can lead to hope for the whole family. Sources: Bull, C. A., Dubois, D. L., Felner, R. D., & Sherman, M. D. (1994). Socioenvironmental experiences, self-esteem and emotional/behavioral problems in early adolescence. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22 (3): 371-97. Eamon, M.K. (2001). The effects of poverty on children's socioemotional development: An ecological systems analysis. Social Work, 46 (3): 256-66. Eamon, M. K. (2002). Influences and mediators of the effect of poverty on young adolescent depressive symptoms. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31 (3): 231-42. Fujiura, G. T., & Yamaki, K. (2000). Trends in demography of childhood poverty and disability. Exceptional Children, 66 : 187-99. Park, J., Turnbull, A. P., & Turnbull, H. R. (2002). Impacts of poverty on quality of life in families of children with disabilities. Exceptional Children, 68 (2): 151-70.