Childhood poverty, chronic stress, and adult working memory

Abstract

The income-achievement gap is a formidable societal problem, but little is known about either neurocognitive or biological mechanisms that might account for income-related deficits in academic achievement. We show that childhood poverty is inversely related to working memory in young adults. Furthermore, this prospective relationship is mediated by elevated chronic stress during childhood. Chronic stress is measured by allostatic load, a biological marker of cumulative wear and tear on the body that is caused by the mobilization of multiple physiological systems in response to chronic environmental demands.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Duration of childhood poverty and children's levels of chronic stress.

Fig. 2.

Duration of childhood poverty and working memory in young adults.