The study concluded that (1) when poverty conditions were present in a 9- to 13-year old's life and (2) when that young person had high levels of stress-related hormones, they demonstrated reductions in working memory (basically short-term memory). As poverty or stress levels increased in study participants, working memory function decreased in later adolescence.
As our community faces higher unemployment rates and Indianapolis consistently ranks in the top three metropolitan area for foreclosure rates, youth are surely being impacted. After a quick internet search for research-based practices to support youth during difficult economic times, I found a great overview and list of related articles from the American Phychological Association. One article is all about talking to children about the economy and inviting them into a discussion. It's amazing how small discussions can go so far in mitigating negative results in youth!
Of course, this article also provokes some thought about how our community as a whole needs to address underlying social and economic issues if we truly want equal opportunities for all our youth. Discussions are important, but quick-fixes might not go far enough to fight the long-term impact on memory among these youth.
A related quote from the study's author:
"It's not just 'Read to our kids and take them to the library,' " he said. "We need to take into account that chronic stress takes a toll not only on their health, but it may take a toll on their cognitive functioning."
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This is one of the reasons I work around issues of personal finance. I grew up in poverty and for a time was in foster care. It wasn't until I felt in control of my resources that I started to feel better about myself as a person. Children know and see more than most adults will acknowledge.
ReplyDeleteI hope many people have a chance to read this study. I posted it on my Facebook page and I just may write a blog about it. Thank you so much for sharing this important study.
PEACE,
Shay Olivarria
Speaker/Author