Faculty Sponsor: Valerie Nazzaro
Live Poster Session: https://wesleyan.zoom.us/j/96870652538
Paley Adelson-Grodberg
Paley Adelson-Grodberg is a freshman at Wesleyan University studying Government and Economics with a special interest in social justice. At ten years old Paley, her younger brother, mother, father, moved from Manhattan to New Haven, Connecticut. Paley spends the majority of her time playing soccer, playing squash, rock climbing, spending lots of time with friends, and doing homework.
Abstract:
Economic inequality plagues our country resulting in lower-income populations at a higher risk of depression than their counterparts (American Psychological Association, 2022). Children under 18 comprise 33% of those poor populations (Hodgkinson et al., 2017). From poor housing to homelessness, unsafe neighborhoods, or hunger, low-income children are at more significant risk for mental (emotional and cognitive) and physical health problems (American Psychological Association, 2022), which can hinder them for the entirety of their adult lives (Hodgkinson et al., 2017).
According to multiple empirical studies and research-based reports, it is undoubtedly true that higher levels of wealth correlate to lower levels of depression. However, it is not money that makes people happy but the stability which wealth provides. While the studies which confirm the relationship between wealth and depression are a necessary start, my research is required to identify which forms of economic hardships correlate to depression.
The present analysis aims to identify a relationship between poverty and depression in adolescents. Moreover, this study will see if multiple economic stressors such as social security or railroad retirement, supplemental security income, aid to families with dependent children, food stamps, unemployment or workers’ compensation, and/or a housing subsidy or public housing correlate with higher levels of depression than just one type of economic stressor. Once we see that multiple forms of economic instability lead to higher susceptibility to depression, research can identify which forms of poverty correlate with the highest levels of depression and, therefore begin to minimize these factors, thus minimizing depression in adolescents.
FINAL-VERSION-QAC-POSTER