Gary Evans: Linking Child Poverty and Mental Health


Posted on 06-12-2009	Translate this page

Evans, Gary W. (2004). The Environment of Childhood Poverty. American Psychologist (59), 77-92. Abstract: Poor children often face widespread environmental inequities. Compared with their economically advantaged counterparts, they are exposed to more family turmoil, violence, separation from their families, instability, and chaotic households. Poor children further experience less social support, and their parents are less responsive and more authoritarian. Low-income children are read to relatively infrequently, watch more TV, and have less access to books and computers. Low-income parents are less involved in their children’s school activities. The air and water poor children consume are more polluted. Their homes are more crowded, noisier, and of lower quality. Low-income neighborhoods are more dangerous, offer poorer municipal services, and suffer greater physical deterioration. Predominantly low-income schools and day care are inferior. The accumulation of these multiple environmental risks rather than singular risk exposure may be an especially pathogenic aspect of childhood poverty. This article is particularly interesting because it links the vulnerability of poor children to their psychological and social development. In light of the fact that childhood deprivation can and will limit human freedoms and development, this article supports for a multidimensional approach to tackle issues of child poverty and vulnerability. It also lends insight into the mental health and psychological health needs of children - one that is often overlooked by the international health donor community. Establishing these links between psychology, education, poverty and broader inequities suggests the need for more effective poverty reduction and poverty alleviation strategies.

Gary Evans