Factors Affecting the School Experiences of Students in Facing Poverty

Chapter 1

Background of the Study

Poverty is a global issue that has been in existence for many decades. According to

Berger et al. (2018),poverty has different definitions depending on the context. It is not just the

lack of money in the family but also lack of resources, which include financial, emotional,

mental, spiritual, physical, support system, role models and knowledge(Boatwright & Midcalf,

2019).Poverty is clearly linked with a number of mental health problems, including

schizophrenia, depression and anxiety, and substance misuse(Krufton & Inglis, 2020).It can

affect how one controls their emotions, especially on how they respond to challenging

situations(Boatwright & Midcalf, 2019).It can also cause poor mental health through social

stress, stigma, and trauma(Krufton & Inglis, 2020). Lack of mental resources makes it hard for

one to deal with everyday to day life and most of the students living in poverty are lack of these

resources(Boatwright & Midcalf, 2019).Families find themselves in poverty and without support

and they keep living in poverty from generation to generation . Poor neighbourhoods are likely to

expose children to violence, insecurity, abuse and drug abuse(Berger et al.2018).Moreover,

poverty was also become one of the most prevalent indicators of academic achievement in our

school today(Kendra McKenzie,2019). Even if nearly all parents are stressed the importance of

helping their children in keeping up with their study(Bol, 202;OECD,2020,p.6.).Poverty is a

critical issue in education and per service and in-service teacher must understand it’s impact on

child’s learning(Boatwright & Midcalf, 2019).As the number of students raised in poverty

increases, it is vitally important that educators must be aware and help to close the gap in
academic achievement between those who raised in poverty and those who raised in more

affluent home(Kendra McKenzie, 2019).

We all know that education is one of the important aspects of human resources

development. Poor school performance not only results in having a low self-esteem but also

cause significant stress to parents. Some other factors that can affect the lives of students in

poverty level is the parental pressure, financial stress, academic performances and mental health

issues especially includes the anxiety and depression.

Due to poverty, parents tend to force their children to make things that their children

don’t want to do or desire the most, it is an emotional stress parents tend to put their children.

The leading cause of parental pressure comes out of concern for the welfare of their children and

their employment.; therefore they try to employ the same dream in their children, leading to

confusion for the kid. More specifically the effect of parental stress on students mainly include

mental illness, eating disorders, low academic performance, cheating at school, problem with

sleep, and low self-esteem(Bay Atlantic University, 2022).Although the pressure is mainly based

on the good intentions of parents, sometimes they go beyond on what’s acceptable for their

children. Students living in poverty often have fewer resources at home to complete homework,

study or engage activities that helps equip them for success during the school day. Many

improverished families lack access to computers, high speed internet and other materials that can

aid a student outside of school(National Association of Secondary School Principals:NASSP,

2022)where financial stress occurs. These more often happens in households with low income. A

report by Thomas(10) conclude that children from lower income households scores significantly

lower on measures of vocabulary and communication skills, knowledge of numbers copying and

symbol use, ability to concentrate and cooperative play with other children, that children from
higher income households. Students worrying about the things to happen in a present life, fear

that causes significant distress and leads to avoidance of events can caused anxiety and

depression. These are two of the most common obstacles teens and young adults face and its

beginning to take a serious toll in the classroom. With so many teens and children who have

undiagnosed anxiety and depression, this can negatively impact their ability to learn and enjoy

their time in school. It also goes unnoticed their mental health is at risk which can lead to social

and behavioural problems, poor performance and learning, neglected hygiene, poor self care

practices and low self-esteem (International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education

Standards, 2022).The different factors that greatly affect the most of students life in poverty level

and the problem that leads to mental illnesses, low academic performances, low self-esteem and

social and behavioural problems that has been considered to have an impact in the performance

of students living in poverty.

Statement of the Problem

1.)What is the profile of respondent?

1.1Grade Level
1.2 Household Income
1.3 Number of Households

2.) What are the factors that affects the school experiences of students in facing poverty?

2.1 Financial Stress

2.2 Health Issues (Anxiety and Depression)
 2.3 Academic Performances
2.4 Parental Pressure

3.) Is there a significant relationship between how students overcome the problem faced in the
midst of poverty and how they study the factors that affects their overall performance and well-
being in facing poverty?
HO1:There’s a significant relationship between how students overcome the problem faced in
the midst of poverty and how they study the factors that affects their overall performance and
well-being in facing poverty.

Theoretical Framework

Resource and Investment Theory

Children living in poverty fall behind more economically advantaged peers because poorer

parents have fewer resources to invest in good and services that directly or indirectly contribute

to child development(Conger et al,2010;Mayer 1997.)Resources also determine the ability of

children to participate in extracurricular activities(Wikely et al, 2007.) Moreover, According to

Schaefer (2016), Children growing up in poor families are less likely to have timely

immunizations, which has adverse effects on their health. These children may face delayed

access to immunizations unlike their peers from middle-income families. These have a negative

impact on the students’ health, income, and family status in adulthood. Another challenge faced

by children living in poverty is the possibility of developing respiratory illnesses like asthma due

to exposure to harmful.

Family and Environmental Stress Theory.

 Money affects students cognitive outcomes through high level of parental stress. Parents on

low income experience significant stressors and negative impacts on mental health arising from

the struggle to pay for day to day essentials(Butterworth et. Al, 2012;Duncan and Brooks Gunn,

1997;Mortimore and Whitty, 2004).Poor parental mental health in turn leads parents to use

hasher disciplines and less positive comments, which negatively affects children behavioural

and8 cognitive outcomes(Risley and Hart, 2006;Sosu and Schmidt, 2017). Children living in

poverty themselves experience greater chronic stress which affects the brain development, social

competence and academic success(Evans et al, 2007).This stress in families caused by poverty, is

thought to result in children spending a part of their day worrying instead of learning(Royal

College of Paediatrics and Children Health, 2017).

According to Jensen (2009), poverty can influence people’s behaviour, emotions, attitudes

And how their brains process emotions. Students from poverty may find it difficult to regulate

their emotions. This means that they are likely to easily give up when faced with challenges in

the classroom. They may often find it challenging to work in groups (Jensen,2009). Some

parents of children living in poverty use harsh words to their children. This is because they could

be already stressed with their living conditions and hence they transfer their anger to the

children. These children’s self-esteem would probably be bruised and they may end up blaming

themselves and try to hide their problems in order to please their parents/caregivers. On the other

hand, the parents/caregivers could be dealing with mental issues (Jensen, 2009). There is a

likelihood that these children are depressed or will end up getting depression. Another major

effect of poverty on these students is that the schools they attend, that are within their

environment, are substandard both infrastructure and resources, and academically because they
 may be understaffed. This is because these schools have a high population of students facing

poverty (Jensen, 2019).

The researcher decide to seek the different factors that can affect the school experiences of

students in facing poverty, so the researcher will figure out how to this problem and

circumstances affect the performance and school experiences of students.

Thus, the independent variables is the poverty that the student faced and the demographic

profile of the respondents, while the dependent variables are the possible factors that can affect

the school experiences of students in facing poverty.

The outline shows the input, process, and output diagram of the research

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

 Demographic Collection and analysis  Students who

profile of the of data through: faced and
respondents in experienced
a) Survey(physical and
terms of age, sex, poverty found a
digital questionnaire)
grade level, solution to
parents overcome the
b) Informal interview
occupation and factors that affect
monthly income. their school
c) Scientific treatment
 Financial performances and
i.
worries, mental experiences.
health issues,  Assessed students
ii.
academic to control
iii.
performances, situation in the
and parental midst of poverty.
stress or
pressure are the
factors that
a. 2.Digital
affect the school
questionnaire
experiences of
students in
 Figure 1.A research paradigm showing the input, process, and output in the existing study

Significance of the Study

To principal, the result of this study provide information and may serve as basis to

encourage them to understand every student situation.

To teachers, the findings of this study may help them to understand and aware why their

students can’t meet their given standards. Advice and guidance from teachers is necessary for

the outcome of the study.

To parents, this study may inform them about the possible effect of their actions towards

their children that can results to neglection of the child’s performance and behaviour. This may

serves as a reminder to encourage and guide their children through ups and down.

To students, this may provide a knowledge about the students that they encountered

who’s facing poverty. And make them understand about the situations of their fellow students.

To future researcher, this study may serve as a basis for related topics. They can get

information that they might needed for their research, some of the questions may possibly

answered by this research.

 Scope and Limitation

This study may focuses on the factors that affects the school performances and

experiences

of the students in facing poverty. The data collection will be conducted from a students facing or

experienced poverty. The respondents will be the students of I-tech Computer Education Senior

High School Inc. Bago City, school year 2022-2023.

Definition of Terms

Poverty
— According to Berger et al. (2018),poverty can defined as lack of material, wealth and
poor standard of living; lack of economic resources or social exclusion
— The state of being poor
Anxiety
— Is an uncontrollable , diffuse, unpleasant, and persistent state of negative affect,
characterized by apprehensive anticipation regarding unpredictable and unavoidable
future danger, and accompanied by physiological symptoms of tension and a constant
state of heightened vigilance (Barlow, 2002).
— A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or
something with uncertain outcome.
Depression
— According to Psychology Today, depression is a mood disorder may descent
seemingly out of the blue, or it may come on the heels of a defeat or personal loss,
producing persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness, hopelessness, helplessness
pessimism, or guilt.
 — Feeling of severe despondency and dejection.
School
— A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and
learning environments for teaching to students (or “students”) under the direction of
teachers(Scholars, blog. flaviarita.com.)
— Institution for educating children
Academic performance
— The measurement of student achievement across various academic subjects. Teachers
and education officials typically measure achievement using classroom performance,
graduation rates, and results from standardized tests.(Ballotopedia)
Parental pressure
— Parental pressure is the emotional stress parents tend to put on their children and is
often related to academic success, cultural and social standards, and other factors.
(Bay Atlantic University, 2022)
— Parental, is used to described something that relates to parents in general, or to one
or both of the parents of a particular child. Pressure, is force that you produce when
you press hard on something.
Financial stress
— Financial stress can be defined as difficulty meeting basic financial commitments due
to a shortage of money.(Steen A and Mackenzie D, 2013)
— Financial, pertaining to monetary receipts and expenditures; pertaining or relating to
money matters; pecuniary: financial operations. of or relating to those commonly
engaged in dealing with money and credit. Stress, a state of mental or emotional
strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.