There is clear evidence that child poverty increases the risk for psychopathology.
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Self-regulation is a protective factor against this risk for those in poverty.
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Self-regulation can be defined by various behavioral components and neural circuits.
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Child poverty alters brain development in regions associated with self-regulation.
Abstract
In the United States, over 40% of youth under the age of 18 live at or near the federal poverty line. Several decades of research have established clear links between exposure to child poverty and the development of psychopathology, yet the mechanisms that convey this risk remain unclear. We review research in developmental science and other allied disciplines that identify self-regulation as a critical factor that may influence the development of psychopathology after exposure to poverty. We then connect this work with neurobiological research in an effort to further inform these associations. We propose a starting framework focused on the neural correlates of self-regulation, and discuss recent work relating poverty to alterations in brain regions related to self-regulation. We close this review by highlighting important considerations for future research on poverty/socioeconomic status, neurobiology, self-regulation, and the risks related to the development of negative mental health outcomes.
Authors' notes: This work is supported by funding provided by multiple units at the University of Pittsburgh, including the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, the Department of Psychology, the Learning Research & Development Center, and the Brain Institute.
