Abstract
In this study we examined the additive and multiplicative relations between poverty status, material hardship, liquid assets,
non-liquid assets, and children’s cognitive skills and social problems at 36 months. The data were from a representative sample
of 1,292 children in six rural counties in the United States. Findings indicated that income, material hardship, and non-liquid
assets explained unique variation in young children’s development. Material hardship was associated with more social problems
for children. Poverty status was associated with lower cognitive skills, and non-liquid assets were associated with higher
cognitive skills at 36 months. We concluded that models that estimate the relation between poverty and child outcomes without
including measures of hardship and assets could be underspecified.
non-liquid assets, and children’s cognitive skills and social problems at 36 months. The data were from a representative sample
of 1,292 children in six rural counties in the United States. Findings indicated that income, material hardship, and non-liquid
assets explained unique variation in young children’s development. Material hardship was associated with more social problems
for children. Poverty status was associated with lower cognitive skills, and non-liquid assets were associated with higher
cognitive skills at 36 months. We concluded that models that estimate the relation between poverty and child outcomes without
including measures of hardship and assets could be underspecified.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-11
- DOI 10.1007/s10834-012-9287-2
- Authors
- Kirsten Kainz, Strategic Education Research Partnership, 1101 14th St. NW Ste. 300, Washington, DC 20005, USA
- Michael T. Willoughby, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 8185, 521 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510, USA
- Lynne Vernon-Feagans, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 8185, 521 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510, USA
- Margaret R. Burchinal, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Campus Box 8185, 521 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510, USA
- Family Life Project Investigators
- Journal Journal of Family and Economic Issues
- Online ISSN 1573-3475
- Print ISSN 1058-0476