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

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  • Kyla Machell
  • David Disabato
  • Todd Kashdan

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. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Kyla Machell & David Disabato & Todd Kashdan, 2016. "Buffering the Negative Impact of Poverty on Youth: The Power of Purpose in Life," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(2), pages 845-861, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:soinre:v:126:y:2016:i:2:p:845-861
    DOI: 10.1007/s11205-015-0917-6
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Chaoxin Jiang & Qiang Ren & Shan Jiang & Lin Wang & Lei Dong & Mingwei Wang, 2021. "Association Between Objective and Subjective Deprivation and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Chinese Adolescents: Hope as a Moderator," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 14(6), pages 2417-2432, December.
    2. Yao, Zhuojun & Li, Yaodi, 2023. "The influence of social support on low-income adolescents’ prosocial behavior: The mediating role of social goals," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    3. Shan Xu & Panyi Ma, 2022. "CEOs’ Poverty Experience and Corporate Social Responsibility: Are CEOs Who Have Experienced Poverty More Generous?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(2), pages 747-776, October.
    4. Ying Liu & Sek-yum Ngai, 2019. "The Impact of Social Capital, Self-Efficacy, and Resilience on the Prosocial Involvement of Adolescents from Families with and without Economic Disadvantages," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 12(5), pages 1735-1757, October.
    5. He, Ling & Tan, Chee-Seng & Pung, Pit-Wan & Hu, Jie & Tang, Hai-Bo & Cheng, Siew-May, 2023. "The role of parental rejection and poverty in the development of prosocial behavior among left-behind adolescents in rural China," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Wathen, Maria V. & Decker, Patrick L.F. & Richards, Maryse H. & Tyson McCrea, Katherine & Onyeka, Cynthia & Weishar, Charity N. & DiClemente, Cara & Donnelly, Will, 2021. "Towards improving engagement of youth of color in cross-age mentoring programs in high poverty, high crime neighborhoods," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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