The Effect of Poverty on Psychological Well-being of Children

It is well documented that poverty has a negative impact on the physiological well-being of children in the West. There is an imperative need for health care professionals to develop and evaluate interventions to promote the psychological wellbeing of children living in poverty. First, however, it is crucial to assess and understand how the impact of poverty, in particular the impact of income disparity, affects the psychological wellbeing of Hong Kong children before any intervention to promote it can be planned, developed, or evaluated. Unfortunately, while much public concern about poverty has concentrated on children's physical development, the impact of poverty and income disparity on their psychological well-being remains relatively underexplored. Because the cultural context in which they live is drastically different from that of Western children, the way that Chinese children view the nature and meaning of poverty, as well as their responses to it and to any psychosocial interventions, will in all likelihood differ considerably from those of Western children. Hence, the aim of this study is to explore the impacts of poverty and income disparity on the psychological well-being of Hong Kong Chinese children.

Inclusion criteria

• Hong Kong Chinese pupils from Grades 5 and 6 of the elementary schools in Hong Kong
• be able to read Chinese and speak Cantonese
• had to live and go to school in the same district

Exclusion criteria

• Children with chronic illness or identified cognitive and learning problems