Poverty and Child Maltreatment
EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPH
“POVERTY”
Child maltreatment has been identified in every socio-economic class. However, studies have shown that children are more likely to face abuse and neglect within low-income families than they will be living in high-income families. Although the effects of poverty towards child maltreatment are evident to some degree, there are consequences that occur because these families live impoverished lifestyles. In many cases, impoverished lifestyles and environments may lead families to many forms of child abuse and neglect . Moreover, scholars have shown that often times when a family deals with economic hardship, the children are more likely to experience problems such as poor physical and mental health; do poorly in academics; receive harsher discipline and abuse, live in poorer environments, which may lead them to engage in criminal acts and violence as well . We will discuss these consequences and the ecological perspective theory which will enable us to understand why this theory can be helpful in determining why it may and may not alleviate potential child abuse and neglect within poor families. Having children grow up in poverty may have many consequences on the children's well-being. Studies have shown that poor children who are born in poor environments are likely to be born with more complications . Because mothers are usually faced with deprivation from resources to help their pregnancies, they are more likely to receive limited required medical attention which can result in having premature babies . If a child is born under the normal weight, they may run the risk of acquiring heightened and constant illnesses that may become long lasting as they get older . Moreover, because of the toxic environments that the children may be exposed to, they run a higher risk of becoming terminally ill, require urgent medical attention, or in some instances it may even be fatal . Some studies have shown that children who live in poor
“POVERTY”
Child maltreatment has been identified in every socio-economic class. However, studies have shown that children are more likely to face abuse and neglect within low-income families than they will be living in high-income families. Although the effects of poverty towards child maltreatment are evident to some degree, there are consequences that occur because these families live impoverished lifestyles. In many cases, impoverished lifestyles and environments may lead families to many forms of child abuse and neglect . Moreover, scholars have shown that often times when a family deals with economic hardship, the children are more likely to experience problems such as poor physical and mental health; do poorly in academics; receive harsher discipline and abuse, live in poorer environments, which may lead them to engage in criminal acts and violence as well . We will discuss these consequences and the ecological perspective theory which will enable us to understand why this theory can be helpful in determining why it may and may not alleviate potential child abuse and neglect within poor families. Having children grow up in poverty may have many consequences on the children's well-being. Studies have shown that poor children who are born in poor environments are likely to be born with more complications . Because mothers are usually faced with deprivation from resources to help their pregnancies, they are more likely to receive limited required medical attention which can result in having premature babies . If a child is born under the normal weight, they may run the risk of acquiring heightened and constant illnesses that may become long lasting as they get older . Moreover, because of the toxic environments that the children may be exposed to, they run a higher risk of becoming terminally ill, require urgent medical attention, or in some instances it may even be fatal . Some studies have shown that children who live in poor