Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Children are not strangers to stress. Over a significant span of human history they have been more often the victims of the slings and arrows of an uncaring society than recipients of its beneficent protection- Garmezy

I have a relative who experienced a lot of stressors as a young child. While being immature myself; I remember being there for her with open arms. Her household was very dysfunctional and chaotic. She was neglected by her mother and continuously sexually abused by her family member. Her mother was highly addicted to drugs and alcohol, and she was left to fend for herself a many of nights. Non-addicts have long wondered why addicts don’t “just quit.” Inherited biochemistry makes people vulnerable to various addictions (Berger, 2009). Anyone can abuse drugs and alcohol, but genes create an addictive pull that can be overpowering, extremely weak, or something in between (Berger, 2009).  I remember her asking the question “why won’t she just stop abusing drugs and love me like your mom loves you.” I never had an answer or words to mend her broken heart; however, I would always tell her that she is important to me. Her family has history with abusing drugs/ alcohol, and misusing prescription drugs as well. She would fight often with other kids and I knew she was needing to be loved and accepted by others due to lack of attachment and the feeling of being good enough from her mom. Berger teaches us that maltreated children typically are less friendly, more aggressive, and more isolated than other children (Berger, 2009).

            Later, she was taken away from her mother through Child Protective Services and placed with her aunt.  Berger explained three levels of Prevention; tertiary prevention includes everything intended to reduce harm when maltreated has already occurred (Berger, 2009). Luckily for her, someone saw enough abuse and decided to take the first steps and reported the abuse to authority. Children need a caregiver they trust, in a safe and stable environment, whether they live with their biological parents, with a foster family, or with an adoptive family (Berger, 2009). She began to cope with the stress surrounding her by becoming active in sports and drill team in school. She began learning from her peers how to form rapport and how to build her social skills.

            Every year, more than 200 million children under five years old fail to reach their full cognitive and social potential. Most of these children live in South Asia and Saharan Africa. As a result of poor development, many children are likely to underachieve in school and subsequently to have low incomes as adults. As adults, they are also likely to have children at a very early age, and provide poor health care, nutrition and stimulation to their children, thus contributing to the intergenerational transmission of poverty and poor development (WHO, 2012). South African children and adolescents are exposed to high levels of HIV/AIDS, poverty, violent trauma with a significant proportion developing Post-traumatic stress disorder (Holdford, 1993). Since they were first adopted, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have raised awareness to help alleviate a few stressors that children face day to day.

Reference:

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5^th ed.). New York

Publishers.

Smith C, Holford Post-traumatic stress disorder: South Africa’s children and adolescents.

Southern African Journal of child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 1993;5:57-69.