Besides poor physical health, poor mental health is also a negative outcome of child poverty. In fact, child poverty is highly associated with higher rates of antisocial behavior, anxiety, and depression (Machell and David J 1; McLeod 1; Najman 1). Poor children also have a higher risk of intentional self-injuries compared to non-poor children (Guo and Mullan 433). Research has shown that early childhood poverty experience can have a long-lasting negative mental health impact on children regardless of their experience with poverty later on in life (McLeod 213,216). There are many factors that might account for the occurrence of mental health problems of children living in poverty. Some mental health problems such as depression may be caused by genetic factors (McLeod 216).
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On the other hand, other researchers argue that parents’ poor mental health affect their children through a conflictual relationship with their children instead of genetic factors (Brooks-Gunn and Greg J 64). Their research finds that parents’ conflictual relationship with their children can lead to “less satisfactory emotional, social” development (Brooks-Gunn and Greg J 64). Some other researchers suggest that in addition to poor children’s interactions with their caregivers, their interactions with others in the society play a role in forming mental health problems as well. Economically disadvantaged children’s perceptions of their own competence influence their mental health. If they feel a lower self-efficacy in their interactions with others such as other children within child care centers, relatives, friends or home providers, they are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems (Guo and Mullan
On the other hand, other researchers argue that parents’ poor mental health affect their children through a conflictual relationship with their children instead of genetic factors (Brooks-Gunn and Greg J 64). Their research finds that parents’ conflictual relationship with their children can lead to “less satisfactory emotional, social” development (Brooks-Gunn and Greg J 64). Some other researchers suggest that in addition to poor children’s interactions with their caregivers, their interactions with others in the society play a role in forming mental health problems as well. Economically disadvantaged children’s perceptions of their own competence influence their mental health. If they feel a lower self-efficacy in their interactions with others such as other children within child care centers, relatives, friends or home providers, they are at a higher risk of developing mental health problems (Guo and Mullan