How poverty affects parental mental health
Poverty can have devastating effects on the lives of children and families. For parents, the impact on their mental well-being can be severe.
In 2022/23, 18% of people in the UK were living in absolute poverty and 30% of all children – that’s approximately 9 children in every classroom.
What is absolute poverty
Absolute poverty refers to people living in households with income below 60% of the average (median) income as it was in 2010/11, adjusted for inflation. Under an absolute measure, the poverty line is mostly fixed to a particular point in time (in this case, 2010/11), and is only adjusted upwards in line with inflation.
In a healthy economy when living standards are rising faster than prices, absolute poverty should always fall.
Growing up in poverty can significantly impact a person’s mental health. But what is the toll on parents? How does raising children in poverty affect their mental well-being?
Growing up in poverty can have a lifelong impact on a child's mental health and life chances.
Living and raising children in poverty can cause significant stress for parents. It often means constant worry about meeting your child’s basic needs, like putting food on the table, affording heating, bedding, and appropriate clothing.
This chronic stress can lead to anxiety and depression. In our services, we consistently see parents struggling to afford these essentials; the impact on their mental health is significant.
It’s the unknown that I fear. Nobody knows what’s going to happen. Will we have enough money to put oil in the tank? Will we have enough money to go to the food shop? Will we have enough to keep the electricity going?
A parent supported by Action for Children
Financial struggles may mean parents struggle to access support groups, pay for travel to see friends, or, due to worry, begin to isolate.
These financial pressures and the mental toll it takes can limit social interactions and support networks for parents, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
This makes poverty a double-edged sword for parents – causing stress and anxiety that is then worsened by reduced access to their support networks.
The stigma associated with poverty can erode self-worth and confidence, making it harder for parents to seek help or feel hopeful about the future. Parents may feel that they aren’t good enough for struggling to provide for their children, or worry about perceptions from other parents or friends.
This can feel very isolating for parents and can exacerbate feelings of anxiety or depression. The constant reminder of their financial struggles can lead to negative self-talk and a diminished sense of self-worth, making it even more challenging for parents to break free from the cycle of poverty.
Parents may also experience feelings of shame and embarrassment, which can prevent them from seeking the support and resources they need.
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Financial stress can strain relationships within the family, leading to conflicts and emotional distance between parents and children. This can add to feelings of failure or inadequacy from parents already struggling.
The pressure to provide for their children can lead to frustration and irritability, which may result in arguments and strained interactions.
Over time, this strain can erode the emotional bonds between parents and children, potentially leading to long-term damage to the parent-child relationship.
We’ve gone from having a house to a home. We’re now a family again, which for a long time we weren’t. We were cohabiters who existed within a house. Our future starts with a happy home and that’s what we now have
A family who were supported by Action for Children
Children who experience these strained relationships may also face increased mental health struggles, as they may internalise their parents' stress and anxiety. The cycle of stress and conflict can create an environment where children feel unsafe or unsupported, further impacting their emotional well-being.
Growing up in poverty can have a lifelong impact on a child's mental health and life chances.
The mental toll of poverty often manifests in physical health problems, which can further exacerbate mental health issues. This could be the result of parents skipping meals so that their children have more to eat, resulting in extreme fatigue, weight loss, or hopelessness.
Poor nutrition can also weaken the immune system, making parents more susceptible to illnesses.
Additionally, anxiety and depression can lead to a lack of interest in physical health and appearance, further deteriorating their overall well-being. The physical symptoms of stress, such as headaches, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances, can also worsen the mental health challenges faced by parents living in poverty.
Parents with ongoing mental health issues can find it hard to secure and stay in paid work. They might be unable to work at all, need to take time off, or need flexibility and accommodations to help them stay in work.
When parents who are out of work due to mental health face poverty, it can be much more difficult for them to rebuild their mental health and be well enough to go back to work.
Parents may also fear that taking on some paid work could result in them losing their health or disability benefits, leaving them much worse off and unable to pay the bills if the job doesn't work out.
I can’t work because of health issues, so I rely on Universal Credit. The money I get doesn’t go far enough…It makes me feel awful that I can’t provide basic things for my daughter. It’s just degrading as a parent. When you’re hungry and worrying about feeding your child, you can’t focus on anything else.
A mum supported by Action for Children services
For parents and children, living in poverty can have significant affects on mental and emotional wellbeing. If left untreated, or if the right support is not available, this can have a worrying impact long term. That's why we're building mental health and wellbeing support into more of our services for children, young people and families.
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