Introduction
The progressive series of physical, social, behavioral, and emotional development or learning that prepare a kid to grow into a healthy adult is known as child development. Particularly between the ages of 0 and 5, a child’s environment and experiences influence their development. The brain grows faster and quicker throughout this time than at any other point. On the other hand, people, households, and societies within a community can be said to be residing in poverty if they lack the means to obtain the kind of diet, engage in general fitness. Thus having the livability and resources that are typical to the majority of the community to which these people, families, and societies belong.
Discussion
Future happiness is affected by a child’s intelligence and behavior. According to Wise (2016), Baby Boomers and Gen X-ers who report greater levels of emotional health in childhood and adolescence also report higher levels of life satisfaction as adults. There is a positive correlation between a child’s happiness level and future success in life, including marriage, health, and financial stability. This study aimed to determine how early experiences shape people’s lives and well-being as adults. Thus, it started by collecting data on participants from birth to the end of the 16th year of life, including their family histories, health, cognitive skills, and behavioral norms (Wise, 2016). This was followed by a comparison with information on their later educational attainment, job, income, behavior, health, and relationship status up to age 50 for the Baby Boomers and age 42 for Generation X. Life satisfaction was measured at various points in adulthood and compared to these statistics. This shows that emotional health in childhood and adolescence was an essential factor in determining later happiness for both generations.
This correlation between childhood joy and adult contentment may be attributed to contented kids growing up to have successful jobs, fulfilling relationships, and robust physical and mental health. Children of both generations, notably Baby Boomers, who excelled in school had more life satisfaction as adults (Wise, 2016). Generation Xers in particular, may have had better success as adults if they had been well-behaved as youngsters. Family history was also a significant factor in the success of both generations. Children from more affluent, stable homes went on to have better professional and personal outcomes.
Increased Risk of Poor Health in Adulthood
Conditions such as poverty, aggression, abuse, and being raised in a home with a member who struggles with mental illness or addiction are all potential contributors According to Finkelhor (2020), when children are born into poverty, they are more likely to face a lifetime of health problems that raise their vulnerability to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. The policy brief finds that focusing on preventing these dangers in young children is crucial. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of symptoms that affects 26% of the global population and raises the danger of developing cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes (Finkelhor, 2020). People with lower socioeconomic positions have a disproportionately high risk of developing MetS. (SES). We observed that low early-life SES is linked to an 84% increased risk of MetS later in life when the contributions of early-life and present SES were compared in explaining MetS risk (Finkelhor, 2020). This provides more evidence that the health gap between the wealthy and the poor has its roots in infancy and that early, focused treatments have the potential to lower the prevalence of MetS among the poor.
Obesity middle, insulin resistance, abnormal lipid profiles, and hypertension all occur together to form the MetS. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is five times more likely to develop in people with this condition. Cardiovascular events are also raised by a factor of two. MetS prevalence is rising worldwide, making it critical to map the disease’s spread and pinpoint areas needing treatment (Finkelhor, 2020). We set out to learn more about how energy imbalance, insulin resistance, physical inactivity, and other risk factors for MetS are influenced by socioeconomic factors throughout a person’s life.
We looked at the correlation between poor economic circumstances in childhood and metabolic risk in later life. We observed that children exposed to poverty were almost twice as likely to have MetS as adults. This demonstrates the importance of initiatives aimed at mitigating childhood poverty’s consequences on adults’ health. This data shows that a high risk of developing MetS is connected with growing up in a low-SES environment and staying there into maturity. Escaping from such an environment may reduce that risk. On the other hand, downward mobility has little impact. In general, persons from impoverished backgrounds had a higher metabolic risk. Participants with low early-life SES were 1.83 times more likely to match the IDF criterion for MetS than those with high early-life SES (Finkelhor, 2020). This suggests that the risk of developing MetS in adulthood is almost double for children raised in poverty.
Intervention Programs
In most cases, people can empathize with families’ difficulties and provide comforting words of encouragement. According to Finkelhor (2020), MetS diagnosis rates have been increasing globally, and it has significant repercussions. MetS risks linked with smoking tobacco in this population are equivalent to the associated risks with 16 years of age. The increased chance of diagnosis seen in individuals from poor early-life SES environments is 83% (Finkelhor, 2020). Due to the strong correlation between early-onset MetS and socioeconomic status, treatments aimed at lowering the lifetime risk of MetS may be most effective if they are focused on children. Efforts to enhance the long-term metabolic health of low-income children should prioritize their social and economic standing. The state can also help in the following ways:
- Increase access to childcare of higher quality by broadening the criteria for eligibility, the activities provided, and the engagement of families.
- Utilize social and economic assistance to address financial hardship and other situations that put families at risk for adverse childhood experiences.
- Improve young people’s and parents’ capacities to handle their emotions and resolve problems using strategies in educational institutions and other organizations.
Conclusion
Childhood trauma may be caused by what is known as “adverse childhood experiences.” Conditions such as poverty, aggression, abuse, and being raised in a home with a member who struggles with mental illness or addiction are all potential contributors. Children exposed to toxic stress may have altered brain development and stress responses. These experiences have been related to developing long-term health issues, mental disorders, and drug abuse in later life. However, it is possible to avoid such occurrences.
In most circumstances, people empathize with families’ problems and give consoling words of reinforcement. They may also support community initiatives to make sure all kids and families have a safe and healthy environment to grow up in. This, in turn, will aid in reducing the harmful effects of adversity in infancy on adult health and opportunity.
References
Finkelhor, D. (2020). Trends in adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the United States. Child Abuse & Neglect, 108, 104641.
Wise, P. H. (2016). Child poverty and the promise of human capacity: childhood as a foundation for healthy aging. Academic pediatrics, 16(3), S37-S45.