The Influence of Toxic Stress on Social-Emotional Development - Research Paper Example

The Influence of Toxic Stress on Social-Emotional Development al Affiliation This document entails a broad discussion on the influences of toxic stress on socio-emotional development. Toxic stress is a type of stress emanating from strong adverse experiences that are sustained by an individual for a longer term. It is known to cause frequent release of stress hormone or basically a protracted activation of the stress response system. The paper elaborates further on the influence of the toxic stress resulting from poverty, exposure to violence, various forms of neglect ion and sexual abuse among others on the a person’s experience, based on how it affect them psychologically and their behaviours, In Psychological effects of social-emotional development it addresses the influence Childhood sexual abuse on recurrent major depressions and Neglect ion on learning difficulties. Under behavioural effects, it investigates the exposure of violence on IPV and poverty on illegal activities. Finally, the paper brings out the effect on stress threshold. Keywords: Toxic Stress, Poverty, Childhood Sexual Abuse, Domestic Violence, Stress Threshold, Depressions, IPV, Neglect ion, Behaviours, Socio-Emotional Development, Illegal Activities, Cortisol, Experiences, Brain Circuits Introduction Stress is inevitably part of human life. Right from birth, the human being has to learn to cope with certain external factors. People experience stress varyingly, and it may make them to behave in particular manner either positively or negatively to overcome the threat at hand. Some level of stress is deemed necessary, especially if it can influence an individual to cope or adapt to new changes out of a threatening situation for survival. However, when stress becomes toxic, it is of great concern, because the body has a way of releasing the emergency stress hormones, which may lead to damaging of one’s health, brain functioning, social behaviour and children development once there is a prolonged activation of stress response system (Wilson, 2014). This is a result of the high level of released chemicals/ emergency hormones that could yield harmful effects on the socio-emotional development. Toxic stress and psychological disorders 1. Childhood sexual abuse and recurrent major depressions Depression is a common mental disorder suffered by people of different ages when toxic stress is imposed on them. A good number of children and women have been victims of various abuses from diverse environment, work and even at homes. However, though many in the society take certain acts for granted, such early abuses have resulted in long lasting episodes of depression for victims of abuse later in their development stages or adulthood. A group of researchers led by Chen conducted a study on development of recurrent MD as a result of the early sexual abuse among Chinese women. The research evaluated the non-genital, intercourse and genital childhood sexual abuse (CSA) to study their risk in experiencing recurrent MD (Chen et al, 2014). The study gives a better understanding of the early maltreatments in childhood that leads to adult-onset depression. Children could have been victims of their rape and molestation due to negligence of their parents, from their caregivers or relatives. Therefore, as these children grow up their childhood experiences could diverge from the normal healthy relationships, as they try to isolate themselves and suffer emotional breakdown when they threatened again or remember the incidences. In relation to the CSA, the research established that victims of CSA were associated with increased risk of developing recurrent MD, CSA was associated with suicidal ideas, feeling of self-worthlessness and guilt, resulted in symptoms of recurrent MD, right from longer depressive episodes, high risks of phobia and dysthymia (Chen et al, 2014). With severity, lack of intervention early in time combined with repetitive trauma definitely pushes the child or an adult to depression state. It is evident that childhood victims of sexual abuse are at a greater risk of suffering more drastic and long term mental disorder. From a psychological understanding of depression during childhood development, sexual abuse has an effect on the level of cortisol hormone. Sexual abuse could cause PTSD or chronic toxic stress, which causes the body to secrete high or very low level of cortisol hormone only to overload the stress response system and harm the development, wellbeing or health of the an individual (Society for Research in Child Development, 2010). Children or even adults could develop trust issues and lead an isolated life, to form loose relationships with those supposed to be close to them. For clinicians and caregivers assisting victims of sexual abuse and patients suffering from depression, understanding the patient’s history would help in their psychological therapy. Early therapeutic interventions have the ability to help depressed victims from CSA be able to overcome depression and other symptoms owing to it. The article is quite informative and confirms the results of other studies on psychological effect for victims of sexual abuse. 2. Neglect and learning difficulties Child abuse and neglect ion can have a devastating effect on the brain development of minors. Neglect ion to a child produces various psychological effects and adapted behaviours, but also risks brain damage to effectively influence learning and cognitive difficulties. There is a link between neglect ion of children, damaging of the brain and risk of developing learning disabilities. Physical and emotional abuses as much as neglect ion that results in long term exposure to stress without mitigation end up affecting the child’s reaction, attention to details, learning and development Neglect ion of children by parents is a common issue, though taken lightly in the society. It is not only about acquiring shelters for homeless children, but deserves a clear evaluation of the type of neglect the child suffers from and the chronic situation. Different types of neglect which all narrows down to failure to provide children with required minimal basic needs. According to Hlady there is physical neglect (inability of caregiver to provide necessities, basics and supervision), educational neglect (denial of education or remedial service), medical neglects when health care is not met and emotional neglect when necessary affection and nurturing for optimal growth is lacking (2004). Abandoned and emotionally neglected children could lead to unrewarding relationships later in life, least to mention the risk of poor management of emotions. A recent study by Lamont reiterated earlier findings that neglect ion in early life of the children and adolescents can severely affect their development capacity, most importantly in the critical areas of speech and language (2010). This would well link to lower performances in their education and learning problems due to the stress imposed on them during their active period s of brain development. Apparently, minors who suffer neglect ion express specific traits that can be associated to the situation they experienced in life. For younger children and infants, their ability to connect with others especially friend is impaired, which also influence their ability learn. There are aspects of delayed developments in learning how to communicate or comprehending what they learn. Uncontrolled neglect ion is a toxic stressor for infants and early childhood, which results in delayed readiness to begin school and lost focus to attention on learning that limit their success opportunities in schools (Children’s Health fund, 2012). The assumption of the article is clearly accurate considering the sensitivity of the brain development for minors. Other than genes, the experiences that children’s attachment and connection to their caregivers and parents have are essential to support their brain development. With strong relationships and physical availability of caregivers for minors, they assist them learn to regulate their strong emotions and language early in time, while neglect ion contribution to toxic stress would disrupt the architecture of brain development. Learning ability and memory functioning is disrupted when the toxic stress affects the neuronal connections in brain. It is clear that toxic stressful experiences of neglect ion could lead to weak foundations of neural circuits to influence the chances of later difficulties (Levitt, n.d.).Optimal brain development, learning abilities and emotional regulation can all be achieved through supportive social connections. However, though the study focus on neglect ion abuses, learning and developmental problems could also be a result of abnormality right from birth, which exposes children to learning disorders and other associated conditions. Toxic stress and behavioural disorders 1. Exposure to violence and IPV ( Intimate partner violence) There are behaviours that children can pick from their families of origin and practice them later in the marriage or courting. For minors who grow up in families with complicated relationships between their parents, they are exposed to any conflicts and domestic violence that happen within their homes. Most children have borne witness from their neighbourhoods or their guardians’ interpersonal conflicts characterised by physical and emotional abuse. This violence could be repeated later in life among children who have learned and believed the abusive way would aid to solve similar conflicts as their parents. Exposure to domestic violence for minors has been linked to various psycho-social effects in children’s adulthood. Exposure to violence for children is a strong adversity that yields toxic stress, with an elevated risk of re-producing similar sets of outcomes. Multiple researches have conducted to test the internalizing of behaviour outcomes for minors exposed to domestic violence. Based on Moylan et al research, results indicated that children exposed to domestic violence, child abuse or both were highly vulnerable to internalizing and externalizing behaviour outcomes than the non-exposed group (2010). Depending on the children’s experiences and management of their feelings when the violence occurs, some may hold back while others believe it and eventually react similarly towards others in life. The article’s findings indicated that high number of females was at a greater risk of internalization compared to the males’ risk of externalization of the behaviour (Moylan et al, 2010). The purpose of the study is to demonstrate that learning and eventually believing in the act of violence could result in cumulative anti-social behaviour for in the youths or adulthood. The conclusion of the article delivers reliable information of a ratio of children brought up in such adversities. Through social learning, youths may learn to use violence into their intimate partner to achieve attention and their desires. Some adults had picked certain characters and emotions like aggression and low self-esteem from past incidences, only to transfer them into their relationships. They end up been victims or perpetrators of IPV. Perpetrators of IPV have no doubt believed that domestic violence strategy in resolving relationship conflict, but could also generate attitudes justifying IPV or other anti-social behaviours. However, according to Franklin, Menaker and Kercher, evidence also indicates that “not every child that witnesses interpersonal parents violence or receives physical punishment end up participating in similar relationships” characterized by violence with their partners (2011, p. 9). Despite been raised from toxic families, many do not conform to the violent behaviour, but develop into honourable and non-violent youth/adults. 2. Poverty and illegal activities A family’s economic hardship is an issue that subjects households to difficult lifestyles. Whenever the problem proves to be an accumulated hardship, families could easily sink into poverty, which has devastating effects on those dependent on the households’ income. The majority of teenagers and youths still under their parents’ protection could seek alternative ways to maintain their way of life, slowly slipping away into illegitimate dealings. Poverty risks damaging people’s dispositions and defining affected children’s life trajectories when nothing is done to change the situation. Poverty is among major causes of toxic stress that leads family members into patterns of disappointments and deficiency of basic necessities. Youths have all over the world the most vibrant but consumed people by toxic stress resulting from economic hardships as they try to establish themselves. To survive poverty and associated problems, they engage in almost any type of businesses and dealings, with few minding the legitimacy just to make ends meets or forget their problems. A study conducted in South Africa revealed that poverty and unemployment were among the key factors linked to substance abuse, often occurring in times of despair among adults and reduced social economic power (Van zyl, 2013). The abuse of illegal drugs is a means to cope with intense pressure of poverty and feeling of worthlessness. In line with the social and emotional effects of poverty, it is easy abuser to engage in crimes and illegal businesses. The absence of support to shield the family members from toxic stress predisposes poverty as a multifaceted problem. Emotionally disturbed individuals, like youths and parents would risk engaging harmful, risky and illegal business just to save their families’ lives. Financial stress leads to emotional stress forcing people to seek better ways to overcome poverty. Though there may exist low paying jobs that could raise an income, the frustration of the pay, time consumed to earn the little could be difficult to tolerate for those used to huge sums. Once the flow of income is stable, though being in an illegal dealing they would strive at any cost to avoid the probability of being poor again. The stress of poverty is toxic to the children who are forced to drop out of school due to deficiency in finance, exposes them to negative environments and home condition and risks their health (“stress of poverty,” 2012). Many families end up shifting to new environments/estates where the living standards can accommodate their situation. This could be where the majority of low income people reside, most likely in highly populated areas or slums where crimes and illegal dealings dominate. Majority of emotionally worn out individuals from financial stress fall for the crime life. Among the reasons associated with drug abuse, the article establishes other factors of toxic and tolerable stress like violence and family disruptions with similar influences. It must however be noted that power and greed other than poverty could also be linked to illegal activities. There are numerous solutions to reduce poverty related toxic stress by providing recovering programs for addicts, benefit systems, counselling and alternative recreational programs. Toxic stress affects low threshold for stress Everyone face difficult and stressful situation at one point in life. Some prove to be more vulnerable to stress than others, easily getting stressed out or suffering from anxiety. Others can respond effectively to counter the threat without necessarily having to trade off with one of their pro-social behaviours. Early experiences of child development matter extensively for their brain development. Persons subjected to physical abuse during early stages of development risks damaging the hippocampus regions of the brain. Experiences of toxic stress whether from physical abuse, neglect ion, poverty, sexual abuse and exposure to violence among others risks proper development of brain circuits (brain cells connections) due to hormonal interference. Alternatively, the person can “develop lower threshold for stress, thereby becoming overly reactive to adverse experiences throughout life” (Zeanah, 2009, p. 7). Some people could be characterized by aggressiveness/violence, anxious or even resistant to change. Apparently, their health, wellbeing and protection from toxic stress causal factors are vital to safeguard their brain development, development of high threshold to stress among other preventions of negative conditions and behaviours associated with damage of their emotions and brain structures. Conclusion During early development of a person, it is the best time to promote socio-emotional development. It helps shape a person’s cognitive, physical and behavioural approach to avoid their impairments. Toxic stress is caused by adverse effects of occurrences such as neglect, poverty, sexual and physical abuse, exposure to domestic violence, and family disruptions among others that end up affecting people experiences, establishment of relationships, their ability to manage emotions, and how they express themselves in relation to one’s social and emotional interaction. Reference List Chen, J. et al. (2014) Childhood Sexual Abuse and the Development of Recurrent Major Depression in Chinese Women. PLoS ONE 9 (1): e87569. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0087569. Children’s Health Fund. (2012, June). Toxic Stressors and Child Development. Retrieved from http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/sites/default/files/toxicstressors-and-childdevelopment-policybrief-june2012.pdf. Franklin, S. A., Menaker, T. A. & Kercher, G. A. (2011, March). The Effects of Family of Origin Violence on Intimate Partner Violence. Retrieved from http://dev.cjcenter.org/_files/cvi/7935%20Family%20of%20Origin%20Violence.pdf. Hlady, J. (2004). Child Neglect: Evaluation and Management. BCMJ, 46 (2) Retrieved from http://www.bcmj.org/article/child-neglect-evaluation-and-management. Lamont, A. (2010, April). Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect for Children and Adolescents. Retrieved from http://www.theactgroup.com.au/documents/EffectsofChildAbuseandNeglectforChildrenandAdolescents.pdf. Levitt, P. (n.d.). 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