Among these challenges are the effects insufficient food, clothing, shelter, and care in childhood can have into adulthood, particularly when it comes to brain development. Because a large part of brain formation occurs very early, within the first six years of life— the conditions a child faces growing up can impact the state of the brain years later. This article discusses how poverty affects children, regarding brain development and mental health.
Risk Factors That May Affect Brain Development in Childhood
Despite the many challenges poverty may pose for the physical and mental well-being of children, being raised in less than ideal social, economic, or financial conditions will not automatically guarantee challenges to brain health. Overall, childhood poverty can lead to cognitive challenges in adulthood such as memory problems and higher stress levels.
Financial strain on the family Stigmatization in the family or community Living in areas of political or social crisis Unstable attachment to caregivers in childhood Stressors at home such as noise or violence in the community Academic and extracurricular stressors in school Exposure to poor parenting techniques Low birth weight Poor prenatal nutrition, or exposure to drugs/other toxic agents during pregnancy
Impact of Poverty on Adult Brain Development
Childhood poverty has far-reaching effects on health and well-being. To begin, a child of parents of a low socioeconomic standing is at a high risk of experiencing infant mortality. This same child may experience low birth weight when born, a predisposition to mental health problems, and notable anatomical changes in the brain. Neurocognitive development may be stunted or otherwise negatively affected by poverty primarily due to the stress produced from living through this condition. This manifests in the following ways listed below.
Lower Spatial Short-Term Memory
For impoverished children, short-term memory functions can be seriously disrupted, especially because short-term memory is believed to reside in the hippocampus. This region of the brain handles learning and memory and is widely accepted to be sensitive to stress, a common downside of poverty. Being raised in insufficiency could affect the hippocampal structure, disturbing the memory and mental development.
Increased Risk of Developing Depression and Anxiety
Studies have shown that children who lived in families of lower incomes by age nine displayed greater activity in the amygdala, while less action was observed in the prefrontal cortex. These differences are important because the amygdala is a portion of the brain that controls the fear response, while the prefrontal cortex is the personality center where we process the environment and give reactions to our surroundings.
Reduction in Gray and White Matter Volumes
A family’s economic status has an impact on the amount of white and gray matter found in the brain. Gray and white matter are important because gray matter controls movement, memory, and emotions, and white matter helps with the transfer of information within the brain. Adults with a low amount of gray matter have trouble retrieving words and show a reduction in processing speed. Those that have low white matter—popularly seen in the elderly, usually develop difficulties with movement and cognitive function.
Increased Feelings of Helplessness
The term “helplessness” refers to a state of being where someone feels an inability to provide, protect, or care for themself."
Coping With Mental Health Challenges
Here are some ways you can address any mental health changes you may be facing, no matter your financial situation:
Make use of pediatric care: Research shows that low-income families are more likely to reach out to their child’s pediatrician for mental health support. Children can also benefit when their caregivers take advantage of social services that care for the under-privileged, as well as pediatric primary care settings which can provide screening for possible mental health issues that might develop from living in poverty. Consider therapy: It’s possible that you’ll be able to find low-cost or free therapy options. You can also ask a therapist if they will offer a sliding scale (meaning that they will reduce your session fees). The organization Open Path Collective works to provide people access to low-cost mental health treatment.
