Children raised in poverty less likely to believe in a just world
Children raised in poverty tend to have weaker beliefs in a just world, a study finds.
Why it matters
- Study shows how childhood poverty affects beliefs and attitudes later in life.
- Highlights long-term impacts of childhood poverty on psychological tendencies.
By the numbers
- Study involved 830 high school students initially, with 515 completing all three surveys.
- Childhood harshness (poverty) was negatively associated with belief in a just world.
- Childhood unpredictability was not consistently linked to belief in a just world.
The big picture
- Belief in a just world influences how individuals interpret success and failure, impacting responses to social issues.
- Study adds to understanding of how childhood conditions shape beliefs and attitudes.
What they're saying
- Some suggest people raised in poverty may face invalidation of experiences by those not raised in poverty.
- Others mention "prosperity gospel", a counterpoint to study's findings about belief in a just world.
Caveats
- Study relied on participants' recollections of childhood, introducing potential bias.
- Findings may not generalize to other cultures, as study was conducted in China.
What’s next
- More research could explore how findings apply across different cultures and contexts.
- Understanding these dynamics could inform interventions to support children raised in poverty.