Stress Process Model Of Poverty

Poverty manifests itself in different forms. Generally it takes the shape of financial or material lack, but it also displays itself in emotional and psychological depravations. Living in a state of poverty means lacking in resources to obtain what is needed to live a healthy life. The limitations of poverty can, “cause a cycle of poor mental and physical health” (Dittmann, 2003). With the experience of poverty, new stresses arise. As new stresses are uncovered, physical and psychological well being are challenged. There is a connection between stratification and mental health. As lower stratification is typically associated with multiple stressors and lack of adequate resources for healthy living, it is connected to the development of emotional and behavioral difficulties or mental illnesses. In the study of sociology, stress is attributed as a cause of mental illness through the Stress Process model. The model proposes that social and economic characteristics or socioeconomic status directly shapes individual’s outcomes and stressors. By outcome, the model refers to distress. The term stressor refers to chronic strains or a stressor that over time can accumulate and lead to mental illness outcomes. Rohall, Milkie, and Lucas (p.229, 2011) state that, “the …show more content…
Poverty is correlated to higher levels of emotional and behavioral difficulties, including anxiety, depression, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorders, aggression, hostility, perceived threat and perceived discrimination for youth (APA, 2016). Regarding physical impacts of low socioeconomic status, there is a higher likelihood of sedentary lifestyles and physiological markers of chronic stressful experiences for adolescents (APA, 2016). Research depicts the impacts that social status and income can have on psychological and physical