Global Courant
Experiencing natural disasters or other traumatic events can impact young people’s education and food security, according to a new peer-reviewed study.
Researchers at Penn State University analyzed data from the Longitudinal Study of Young Lives of 1,713 children from Peru over the age of 15. The survey data included reading, math and vocabulary test scores, information about their food security and health, and how much time they spent studying and household chores.
The study, which was published in the journal Population survey and policy evaluation, aimed at teens who have experienced “shocks,” according to researchers, traumatic events such as an earthquake, flood, job loss, crop failure, divorce or the death of a loved one. They found an association between the number of “shocks” a person experiences at a young age and lower reading and vocabulary test scores over time, as well as food insecurity.
“As climate change leads to more frequent and severe weather events, and economic crises and an ongoing pandemic continue to create challenges for families, it is critical that policies minimize the effects of these shocks,” said Carolyn Reyes, senior research associate at Public Wise who led the study. led, said in a press release. “These types of initiatives could include unconditional cash transfers, expansion of social protection, and more accessible and widely available insurance programs.”
According to the study, recent “shocks” were “most strongly associated with negative learning and well-being outcomes.” Researchers found that 15-year-olds who experienced “shock” in the past three or four years generally fared worse: They scored lower on tests, were less food secure and had poorer health on average.
Heather Randell, an assistant professor of rural sociology and demography at Penn State, said that while the study looked at data from Peru, the findings could be applied to people around the world.
“Domestic shocks experienced by children can take a significant toll on health and learning, regardless of where they live,” Randell said in a press release accompanying the study. “For example, if teens have to help care for siblings or help their parents earn an income, this can divert resources and attention from school. This, in turn, can affect the amount of time teens have to concentrate on schoolwork, or it may push them out of school altogether.”
Past research has found that young people, especially younger children, are often more vulnerable to “shock” than others, according to the study, and that it can stunt their physical and cognitive growth for years.
According to the study, children from rural areas could face additional scenarios, such as being forced to drop out of school to bring in more income because of their family’s dying crops.
According to Reyes, Peru was an ideal choice for the study “because of its high levels of poverty and inequality” and because of its many farmers.
“Peru is highly susceptible to environmental shocks such as earthquakes, floods and droughts,” Reyes said. “In addition, a significant portion of the population is under the age of 18. All of these factors increase the likelihood that children will be exposed to shock during their young lives.”
The researchers said they wanted to build on existing data because most previous studies on the topic have focused on well-being data from a specific point in time and only one or two types of “shocks.” Reyes said their study looked at multiple types of “shocks” and measures well-being data in different ways over a 15-year period.
Reyes concluded that there could be several explanations for their findings, and that there are several factors that influence youth well-being.
“Because education and early work experiences are so important to future economic and social success, exposure to shocks can create conditions that result in a life of hardship,” she said. “Additional research could investigate the exact mechanisms of how these shocks affect schooling and well-being, which could then help design targeted and effective interventions.”
