THE EFFECTS OF POVERTY ON CHILDREN

Although hundreds of studies have documented the association between f amily poverty and children's health, achievement, and behavior, few me asure the effects of the timing, depth, and duration of poverty on chi ldren, and many fail to adjust for other family characteristics (for e xample, female headship, mother's age, and schooling) that may account for much of the observed correlation between poverty and child outcom es. This article focuses on a recent set of studies that explore the r elationship between poverty and child outcomes in depth. By and large, this research supports the conclusion that family income has selectiv e but, in some instances, quite substantial effects on child and adole scent wellbeing. Family income appears to be more strongly related to children's ability and achievement than to their emotional outcomes. C hildren who live in extreme poverty or who live below the poverty line for multiple years appear, all other things being equal, to suffer th e worst outcomes. The timing of poverty also seems to be important for certain child outcomes. Children who experience poverty during their preschool and early school years have lower rates of school completion than children and adolescents who experience poverty only in later ye ars. Although more research is needed on the significance of the timin g of poverty on child outcomes, findings to date suggest that interven tions during early childhood may be most important in reducing poverty 's impact on children.