The Effects of Poverty on Childhood Development

Abstract

There is no denying that the effects of poverty are vast and farreaching. From life expectancy to academic success, the effects it has have inundated many aspects of life for those who identify with the socioeconomic status. Those who are largely effected by it are some of society’s most vulnerable individuals children. Children living in poverty often lack easy access to proper housing, education, nutrition, and medical care. In both developed and non-developed countries, poverty is continuously linked to deficits in biological, cognitive, emotional, and academic development. This paper aims to explore the many different effects poverty and its associated domains have on childhood development. From infancy through adolescence and the ripple effect it has on adulthood, the consequences of living in low-income environments will be discussed in relation to proper childhood development. Due to the malleable nature of the brain during these crucial formative years, many of the issues faced during childhood can persist into adolescence and further into adulthood. For these reasons, the long lasting effects of enduring poverty into adulthood will also be examined.