Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility
Associations between family income and child developmental outcomes are well documented. However, family income is not static but changes over time. Although this volatility represents income shocks that are likely to affect children’s lives, very few studies have so far examined its effect on early...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.758082/full |
| _version_ | 1818370223190835200 |
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| author | Edward M. Sosu Peter Schmidt Peter Schmidt |
| author_facet | Edward M. Sosu Peter Schmidt Peter Schmidt |
| author_sort | Edward M. Sosu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Associations between family income and child developmental outcomes are well documented. However, family income is not static but changes over time. Although this volatility represents income shocks that are likely to affect children’s lives, very few studies have so far examined its effect on early cognitive development. This study investigated associations between family income, volatility, and changes in cognitive outcomes in early childhood and examined whether these associations are dependent on a family’s overall income position. Data for the study spanned five waves of the Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey (N = 3,621). Findings indicate that income volatility was more prevalent among disadvantaged sociodemographic groups. In addition to average income, short-term volatility was associated with changes in child cognitive outcomes from ages 3 to 5. While upward volatility was associated with gains in expressive vocabulary, downward and fluctuating volatility were associated with declines in child problem-solving abilities. The association between volatility and changes in cognitive outcomes was similar for both children living in poverty and those from medium–high-income households. Our results suggest that policies aiming to cushion all families from negative income shocks, boost family income to ensure stability, and take low-income families out of poverty will have a significant impact on children’s cognitive development. Additionally, a more nuanced conceptualization of income is needed to understand its multidimensional impact on developmental outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:36:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b195a1daed8f4b68a315e905e085dec9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T23:36:19Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-b195a1daed8f4b68a315e905e085dec92022-12-21T23:27:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782022-03-011310.3389/fpsyg.2022.758082758082Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and VolatilityEdward M. Sosu0Peter Schmidt1Peter Schmidt2School of Education, Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United KingdomDepartment of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyCenter for International Development and Environmental Research, University of Giessen, Giessen, GermanyAssociations between family income and child developmental outcomes are well documented. However, family income is not static but changes over time. Although this volatility represents income shocks that are likely to affect children’s lives, very few studies have so far examined its effect on early cognitive development. This study investigated associations between family income, volatility, and changes in cognitive outcomes in early childhood and examined whether these associations are dependent on a family’s overall income position. Data for the study spanned five waves of the Growing Up in Scotland longitudinal survey (N = 3,621). Findings indicate that income volatility was more prevalent among disadvantaged sociodemographic groups. In addition to average income, short-term volatility was associated with changes in child cognitive outcomes from ages 3 to 5. While upward volatility was associated with gains in expressive vocabulary, downward and fluctuating volatility were associated with declines in child problem-solving abilities. The association between volatility and changes in cognitive outcomes was similar for both children living in poverty and those from medium–high-income households. Our results suggest that policies aiming to cushion all families from negative income shocks, boost family income to ensure stability, and take low-income families out of poverty will have a significant impact on children’s cognitive development. Additionally, a more nuanced conceptualization of income is needed to understand its multidimensional impact on developmental outcomes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.758082/fullfamily incomeincome volatilitycognitive developmentearly childhoodpovertyincome dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Edward M. Sosu Peter Schmidt Peter Schmidt Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility Frontiers in Psychology family income income volatility cognitive development early childhood poverty income dynamics |
| title | Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility |
| title_full | Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility |
| title_short | Changes in Cognitive Outcomes in Early Childhood: The Role of Family Income and Volatility |
| title_sort | changes in cognitive outcomes in early childhood the role of family income and volatility |
| topic | family income income volatility cognitive development early childhood poverty income dynamics |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.758082/full |
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