Effects of poverty on brain development, mental health and physical health

• Main Authors: Chua, Siyun, Tan, Yee Hern
• Other Authors: Shen Biing-Jiun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2019
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/77130
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This paper explores the effects of poverty on brain development, mental health and physical health. Firstly, we examine the relationship between poverty and brain development, particularly the hippocampus and amygdala. Next, we discuss the relationship of brain development with mental health and physical health. Thirdly, we examine the relationship between poverty and mental health, particularly depression and internalizing/externalizing behaviors. Fourthly, we examine the relationship between poverty and physical health, specifically cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Next, we review the association between mental health and physical health as poverty can further worsen individuals’ well-being. We found that poverty has a wide range of negative impacts on brain development, mental health and physical health, affecting different domains of well-being. Additionally, several mediators and moderators contributed to the effects of poverty on well-being, serving as potential intervention targets for individuals in poverty. The implications of the findings reported in this paper are discussed. However, the findings reported should be interpreted with caution due to several limitations. Lastly, directions for future research are included to obtain a more nuanced understanding of poverty, and more effective interventions for individuals in poverty can be designed and implemented. Keywords: poverty, brain development, physical health, mental health