Breaking the Cycle: Resilience and Hope in the Face of Adversity
According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2022), 11% of the American population are in poverty (that’s an estimated 40 million people). Most are from the South (13%) and under 18 (16%).Of those 40 million people, just under half (46.4%) are from single parent families (mostly single mother headed households) and 11.6 million are comprised of children. The numbers also show that black children are disproportionately affected by poverty (19.5% black; 17% Hispanic, 10% white, 8.2% non-Hispanic, 8.1% Asian). It can be concluded that black children from the south make up the majority of those in poverty in the US.
Poverty often creates and compounds many social issues. Many in poverty are poster children for Adverse Childhood Experiences. ACEs are traumatic events, (e.g., abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction) that have long lasting negative effects on well-being and health (both physically and mentally). Women, Indigenous people, and African American people have higher risk of experiencing 4 or more ACEs during childhood. To paint a picture, consider the following: The 2016 study was conducted by the Center for Disease control discovered that approximately 34 million children in the US are affected by ACEs, approximately 64% of participants reported having at least 1 ACE; 12% reported having more than 4 ACEs. As ACEs increase, so does risk. People with 4 or more ACEs are twice as likely to develop cancer or have a stroke, and 19 times more likely to become an alcoholic. The chance for acquiring depression increases 460 % and attempting suicide increase 1,220 %.
These numbers speak to the gravity of the issues young people of color face in early stages of development, where crucial environmental influences can set young people up for success, or a life wrought with strife. It is with hard earned courage that I can say proudly, I was one of those children. I grew up in a single mother headed household with ultimately 7 sisters. Though it has been some time since then, I remember resources being scarce and struggling with depression as a child. I remember thinking “I refuse to be a statistic.”
Resilience is the act of growing through adversity by use of self-righting behaviors that are a response to trauma or negative life events. It’s important to note that one cannot cultivate resilience without some form of adversity (Conner & Davidson, 2003). But because there were protective factors inherent in me and those in my environment, I had example of what could be, despite a difficult start in life. I had several resilience factors that enabled me to elevate myself out of poverty. I did well in school, had positive peer relationships and adult mentors and role models who guided me, showed me how to navigate a world not necessarily set up for my success. As a result, I strive to be a resilience factor in the lives of my clients and friends and family. In the hope that they may spread this attribute to others who are struggling, especially young people.
How will you spread resilience to those in your life who need it the most?
References:
Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depression and Anxiety, 18(2), 76–82. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.10113
The Basic Facts About Children in Poverty. (2021, November 3). Center for American Progress. Retrieved September 15, 2022, from
Centers for Disease Control. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/index.html
US Census Bureau. (2022). Poverty in the United States: 2021. Census.gov. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2022/demo/p60-277.html#:%7E:text=Highlights-,Official%20Poverty%20Measure,and%20Table%20A%2D1)..