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Buffering the Negative Impact of Poverty on Youth: The Power of Purpose in Life

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Abstract

Adolescent poverty is associated with increased antisocial and decreased prosocial behaviors. Attenuating these negative effects is relevant for both individual and societal well-being. Research exploring how youth in poverty can escape antisocial behaviors and move toward prosocial behaviors has been limited primarily to risk factors. From a strengths perspective, we sought to understand how a potential resiliency factor—purpose in life—could protect youngsters from the deleterious effects of poverty. We conceptualized purpose in life as a central, future-oriented, goal-organizing framework that provides adolescents reasons to resist antisocial behavior and engage in prosocial behaviors. In moderation analyses, purpose in life mitigated the effects of poverty on antisocial behavior (i.e., disobedience and bullying), but failed to boost prosocial traits and behaviors for youth in poverty. We emphasize the importance of developing a sense of purpose in economically disadvantaged youth for bettering their lives and communities.

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Notes

  1. Poverty is defined as an income of $23,283 or less in 2012 for a family of four with two children.

  2. ChildTrends bears no responsibility for the current analysis or interpretation by the authors of this paper. 

  3. The squared semi-partial correlation for the interaction term is equal to the change in R2 from a hierarchical regression analysis where the main effects are entered in step 1 and the interaction effect, after controlling for the main effects, is entered in step 2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, George Mason University, MS 3F5, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Kyla A. Machell, David J. Disabato & Todd B. Kashdan

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  1. Kyla A. Machell
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  2. David J. Disabato
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  3. Todd B. Kashdan
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Correspondence to Todd B. Kashdan.

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Machell, K.A., Disabato, D.J. & Kashdan, T.B. Buffering the Negative Impact of Poverty on Youth: The Power of Purpose in Life. Soc Indic Res 126, 845–861 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-0917-6

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