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The environment of poverty: multiple stressor exposure, psychophysiological stress, and socioemotional adjustment

Gary W Evans1, Kimberly English

  • 1Department of Design, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-4401, USA. gwe1@cornell.edu

Child Development
|July 31, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Children in poverty face more physical and psychosocial stressors, leading to socioemotional difficulties. Cumulative stress exposure may explain the heightened risk observed in low-income, rural youth.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Poverty impacts child development, increasing socioemotional difficulties.
  • Exposure to multiple stressors is a potential contributing factor.
  • Research gaps exist for low-income, rural populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare stressor exposure in low-income, rural children versus middle-income peers.
  • To examine psychological distress, self-regulation, and psychophysiological stress.
  • To investigate the role of cumulative stressors in poverty-related risks.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 287 low-income, rural children (ages 8-10).
  • Assessed physical (housing, noise, crowding) and psychosocial (family turmoil, violence) stressors.
  • Measured self- and parent-reported distress, self-regulation, and psychophysiological stress markers.

Main Results:

  • Low-income children experienced a wider range of stressors.
  • Elevated psychological distress, impaired self-regulation, and higher psychophysiological stress were found.
  • Preliminary analyses suggest cumulative stress partially mediates poverty's impact.

Conclusions:

  • Cumulative stressor exposure is a significant factor in socioemotional difficulties for children in poverty.
  • Findings highlight the need for interventions addressing environmental stressors in vulnerable populations.
  • Extends prior research to a low-income, rural White child demographic.

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