Children from poor backgrounds are significantly more likely to harm themselves as young adults, according to a major new study.
Growing up in poverty can have an “adverse impact” on child development, which can in turn lead to higher risk of self-harm and violence, researchers at the University of Manchester found.
Their study showed that children who remained in the top 20 per cent of wealthiest families over their first 15 years of life were the least likely to harm themselves or commit violent crime between the ages of 15 and 33.
However, those from families who remained in the least affluent fifth of society were seven times more likely to harm themselves and 13 times more likely to commit violent crime as young adults.
They added that 10 years of austerity in the UK would be likely to "escalate and entrench" these problems, with poverty currently affecting more than one in four children in the UK.
Professor Roger Webb, one its authors, explains, “Exposure to poverty can have an adverse impact on early child development as well as parental conflict and separation, harming children’s psychosocial development and well-being.” He added: “This study underlines just how important it is to tackle socioeconomic inequalities during childhood. That encompasses access to public services, good housing and education but also things like local and social environments.”
Nearly half-a-million children have no-one to talk to if they feel worried or sad, a survey has found. In total, one in 10 children (11 per cent) said they feel they have no-one to talk to, or would not talk to anyone in school, if they felt worried or sad.
Nearly half-a-million children have no-one to talk to if they feel worried or sad, a survey has found. In total, one in 10 children (11 per cent) said they feel they have no-one to talk to, or would not talk to anyone in school, if they felt worried or sad.
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