As in any other playoff, candidate rhetoric let loose during the U.S. presidential race can be tough. We’ve held a front row seat to the 2012 showdown for over a year, with tensions still rising as the general election looms nearer. Some of the barbs launched along the campaign trail have been laughable: Newt Gingrich’s television ad incriminating Mitt Romney for his ability to speak French comes to mind. Others are not. The dialogue surrounding U.S. poverty and inequality, two issues that are hotter than ever during a deep recession that the nation has shown incapable of simply shaking off [...]
Family
Strapped families turn to coupons to make ends meet
Increasing numbers of families, struggling financially as a result of the recent economic downturn, are turning to discount coupons for help. The coupons at local stores provide affordable groceries for families. Some families have created business ventures founded upon couponing as a way to earn additional income. Photo credit: Danielle Levitt »
Maternal-Related Predictors of Self-Regulation Among Low-Income Youth
The association between self-regulation and various adaptive outcomes is a topic of growing interest, yet there is little research on predictors of self-regulation in children. This study examined whether maternal characteristics, namely the mother’s mental health, substance abuse, parenting practices, and child monitoring predicted self-regulation in children. Participants were a culturally diverse group of... »
Comparing the Residential Origins of Homeless Families and Homeless Individuals in Miami-Dade County, Florida
This study compares the residential origins of homeless families with those of homeless individuals, and finds significant differences in their spatial distribution. The results clearly suggest that homeless individuals are more highly concentrated in neighborhoods of high poverty than homeless families. The study suggests the possibility that drift effects (how persons with mental disability... »
Alabama: Worst state for the poor?
Alabama is the harshest state when it comes to taxing the poor, finds a study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alabama has the highest tax of any state for families living at the federal poverty line, and is one of only four that tax one-parent families of three that earn less... »
Are obese women intentionally sacrificing their health?
Poverty and obesity frequently go hand in hand, particularly for women: Poor mothers are more likely to be obese than poor men and wealthier women. Often, their obesity is viewed as evidence of laziness. However, a new study from Pennsylvania State found that single mothers who struggle financially may skip meals and eat cheaper, less-nutritious... »
Families in extreme poverty on the rise
The number of families living on $2 per person per day for at least a month has more than doubled in 15 years, a new study finds. Government benefits ameliorate the impact of extreme poverty for some, but even when food stamps are included as income, the number of households has almost doubled from... »
Failed Adoptions Create More Homeless Youths
Lamar West has lost his parents twice during his life, first when he was 4, then again just before his 18th birthday. This article details the young man’s life and how the adoption system has left more teens homeless when adoptions “fail.” »
Single parents struggling in Detroit
Detroit has one of the country’s highest rates of child poverty: An estimated 39 percent of children live in poverty and over 70 percent live in low-income families. Although single parents frequently work long hours, they are still at risk of living below the poverty line. Nonprofit organizations and parenting classes could help alleviate some of... »
The Rising Age Gap in Economic Well-Being
This study compares household incomes of families headed by older adults (65-plus) with those headed by their younger counterparts (35 and under). Trends show that since 1984, the households with older adults have seen a significant jump in income, while younger households have been declining. This trend of older households making larger gains is... »
The Role of Childhood Neglect and Childhood Poverty in Predicting Mental Health, Academic Achievement and Crime in Adulthood
This is an examination of the value of childhood neglect and childhood poverty in predicting Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), academic achievement, and crime in young adulthood. The study found childhood neglect and childhood family poverty uniquely predicted PTSD and adult arrest, while MDD was affected only by childhood family poverty.... »