Poverty Stressors Lead to Impaired Learning Ability in Children

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/health/stresses-poverty-may-impair-learning-ability-young-children

The stresses of poverty — such as crowded conditions, financial worry, and lack of adequate child care — lead to impaired learning ability in children from impoverished backgrounds, according to a theory by a researcher funded by the National Institutes of Health. The theory is based on several years of studies matching stress hormone levels to behavioral and school readiness test results in young children from impoverished backgrounds.

Further, the theory holds, finding ways to reduce stress in the home and school environment could improve children's well being and allow them to be more successful academically.

High levels of stress hormones influence the developing circuitry of children's brains, inhibiting such higher cognitive functions such as planning, impulse and emotional control, and attention. Known collectively as executive functions, these mental abilities are important for academic success.

<snip>

During the course of their research, Dr. Blair and his colleagues measured children’s levels of cortisol, a hormone the body releases in response to stress. With minor stress, a modest increase followed by a decrease in cortisol over time is associated with improved performance on complex tasks (graphic athttp://www.nichd.nih.gov/news/releases/stress_learning_graphic.cfm.)

However, Dr. Blair explained, at high levels of stress, particularly over a long period of time, cortisol can be sustained at high or low levels or even become blunted, actually decreasing in response to challenges.

<snip>