Inequitable Experiences and Outcomes in Young Children: Addressing Racial and Social-Economic Disparities in Physical and Mental Health

Abstract

Given the high rates of child poverty in the United States, socioeconomic disparities exist regarding children's physical and mental health. These disparities are particularly pronounced for children of color, who are more likely to experience poverty compounded by the vestiges of historical and systemic racism. Physical health disparities include higher rates of mortality, growth impairments, allergies, respiratory difficulties, tooth decay, and injuries. Disparities have also been found in the mental health arena, including a higher likelihood of internalizing and externalizing disorders, as well as trauma symptoms, and differences in the timing of diagnosis of, types of, and treatments for mental health disorders. Familial, neighborhood, service, and systemic contextual factors further solidify these disparities. It is critical to address the structural causes of these disparities and their consequences to promote more positive outcomes in affected children. A system of care that integrates economic programs, child care and education supports, parenting interventions, and appropriate physical and mental health care is essential to meet the health needs of children from impoverished backgrounds. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Developmental Psychology, Volume 4 is December 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Environmental chemical exposures and mental health outcomes in children: a narrative review of recent literature

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Theory‐informed school counseling: Increasing efficacy through prevention‐focused practice and outcome research

“…Research also reveals disparities in children's access to mental health services (Cook et al., 2013). Only 20% of children with behavioral concerns receive mental health care (Jones Harden & Slopen, 2022), and fewer than 30% of highly rural communities have a mental health facility serving youth (Graves et al., 2020).…”

African American children in the child welfare system.

“…Child maltreatment results in a variety of negative sequelae across domains and across the lifespan. Some of these outcomes are attributable to the myriad risk factors that characterize the experiences of children in the CWS (e.g., poverty, adverse neighborhood conditions, familial stress; Brody et al, 2014), which are more likely to be experienced by African American children than White children (Harden & Slopen, 2022). Although most studies on the sequelae of child maltreatment and child welfare involvement do not disaggregate by race and ethnicity, it is clear that the health and well-being of African American children are adversely impacted by these experiences.…”