Three types of stress caused by poverty

According to statistics, more than 37.9 million Americans, equivalent to 11% of the US population, currently live below the poverty line and are struggling to cover basic necessities such as food, housing and health care.

Poverty-related stress occurs when there are ongoing struggles to meet basic needs such as food, housing, and security, mentally and emotionally.

The constant pressure to make ends meet and solve problems due to not having enough money often causes anxiety, depression, and hopelessness over time. The stress associated with poverty is like a toxic weight that takes a toll on mental health and makes it difficult for people to feel hopeful and happy.

According to a study published in late October 2023 by a group of scientists from the United States, the Netherlands, South Africa and Germany, poverty-related stress is debilitating, stemming from prolonged exposure to physical, emotional and psychological pressures due to severe financial hardship. This stress manifests itself in three aspects of life.

Easily disturbed by noise

Research has found that people living in financial hardship are more sensitive to loud noises, making it harder to rest, recover, or concentrate. For example, the stress of noisy, crowded homes includes crying babies, loud music from neighbors, outside construction noise, or heavy traffic noise. Environmental noise disrupts sleep and concentration, causing irritability and exhaustion.

Family dysfunction

This means you feel stressed because of a lack of stable, decent housing, inadequate housing resources, and poor social relationships. Substandard living conditions tend to cause personal distress and family conflict. The basic needs for a healthy life are lacking, leaving people disconnected and vulnerable to feelings of hopelessness.

Always struggling financially

This means you feel anxious and overwhelmed as you struggle to pay the bills. With money running out in all aspects of your life, dreams and goals are often sacrificed for survival. Fears of job loss, accidents and illness grow. Additionally, you are easily stressed because you cannot achieve goals such as education due to money problems.

Research shows that stress stemming from poverty not only negatively affects individuals and their families, but also costs governments billions of dollars each year, including health care costs and social assistance programs.

According to Llewellyn E. van Zyl, PhD, professor of psychology at Northwestern University (USA), targeted interventions to reduce specific stressors can help improve the well-being of people living in poverty. Noise reduction initiatives, housing guarantees, and financial assistance programs promise to reduce the toxic pressures of poverty.