The Effects of Poverty in Adolescents
There is an increasing acknowledgment of the need for adolescents to shape their health throughout life. Adolescence is a major stage in the growth of health behaviors like smoking. The behaviors that develop during this particular period often persist into adulthood. This period usually involves rapid social, cognitive, emotional, and physical changes, hence health behaviors and conditions that can reflect or affect the processes of development during this stage can have long term impacts. Besides, poor mental or physical health in these people presents severe challenges to occupational and educational success, which may have long-lasting effects on the life chance of young people. The socioeconomic status of the household in which adolescents live is a key determinant of the behavior and health of these people. Although some researchers suggest that the period of adolescence is one of the relative equality in health, children living in poor households exhibit poorer outcomes. Poverty together with an increasing inequality, which is manifested in the increase in the difference between the poorest and richest communities, has substantial impacts on the mental status of vulnerable people. Adolescents are susceptible to the results of poverty. Being a period of transition for young people and their families, the stage of adolescence creates both opportunities and challenges to intrude on the impacts of poverty.
In many countries, adolescence is seen as a time in which young people experience major changes in their life. In communities and countries where resources are in abundance, the shift to adult duties is extended and gradual. Conversely, for youths living in poorer communities, the assumption of adult responsibilities is more abrupt, dramatic, and truncated. Poor parents often work for long hours at minimum pay when working opportunities are available, thus creating an increase in the demand for maturity from children. This is quite true in households headed by a single parent. According to Williams (2015), many African American youths in the inner city assume adult roles at a very tender age. Therefore, the adolescence stage may not be uniform as it is featured. There are developmental differences in adolescents in different socioeconomic groups. However, the vulnerability of the changes that take place during this particular stage, whether gradual or rapid, is accentuated by poverty.
Poverty affects the mental health of adolescents in different ways. As cite states, poverty directly affects the mental status of adolescents. It also impacts social adjustment and life quality. Most adolescents are always aware of the economic challenges that their families face. This influences the satisfaction of these individuals with their environment and family. Their perception that parents hold financial problems is linked to aspects of the mental health of adolescents, meaning that poverty significantly affects the mood states of adolescents. Besides, poverty affects the relationship between adolescents and their parents. Adolescents in environments of low socioeconomic status are known to be at a higher risk of teenage suicide (Chaudry & Wimer, 2016). Also, adolescents’ exposure to violence in the high poverty communities is associated with increasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and externalizing behavior issues.
Moreover, poverty tends to have cumulative impacts on adolescents. Chronic acquaintance to poverty increases the risks of adolescents suffering from mental impairments like depression and other behavior risks like the early sexual debut, criminal activities, and substance use Wickham, Whitehead, Taylor-Robinson & Barr, 2017). They support a significant relationship between substance use and poverty, as well as the relationship between criminal deeds and substance use. Therefore, poverty is a source of comorbid mental health challenges. Most of the high criminals have a history of comorbid substance use and placement in restricted residential programs during their childhood. Most criminal activities are conducted by individuals in their late adolescence stage. It is mainly as a result of adolescent’s loss of special education advantages and scaffold welfare. Hence, the lack of economic services and scaffold contributes to the problematic social conduct of adolescents. This form of loss is evident in various parts of the US where the criminal justice system treats adolescents at the age of 18 as adults. These particular group of individuals doesn’t qualify for various mental health services and adult welfare services unless they are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder.
To curb these impacts, the government should provide screening services for psychiatric issues in adolescents at the age of eighteen. This is to prevent the criminal justice system from considering adolescents as adults. Also, chronic exposure to poverty must be timed. Exposure of adolescent boys to progressive poverty makes them susceptible to poor achievement in academics and an increase in behavior issues. It is difficult to increase the funding for mental health services for adolescents living in poor households. Legislators need to recognize the mental health needs of adolescents and the related crisis in financing services of mental health. Even with the limited funding, a change in the focus of mental health form inpatient institutions to community-based services would lead to wonderful savings, which would eventually result in a higher coverage for adolescents needing such services. Finally, growing up in low socioeconomic communities may have long term effects beyond the opportunity for securing a better future. Certainly, the stress of poverty during childhood and adolescence may be linked with serious problems in adulthood.
References
Chaudry, A., & Wimer, C. (2016). Poverty is not just an indicator: The relationship between income, poverty, and child well-being. Academic pediatrics, 16(3), S23-S29.
Wickham, S., Whitehead, M., Taylor-Robinson, D., & Barr, B. (2017). The effect of a transition into poverty on child and maternal mental health: a longitudinal analysis of the UK Millennium Cohort Study. The Lancet Public Health, 2(3), e141-e148.
Williams, K. (2015). The Impact of Poverty Has on Adolescents’ Experiences at School According to School Social Workers.