A qualitative study on the mechanisms underlying growing up in poverty, social exclusion, and mental health.

Abstract

A qualitative study that investigates how growing up in poverty for young people from Kanaleneiland can lead to social exclusion, and how social exclusion can lead to mental health problems. This has been researched from the perspective of young people and parents from the relevant neighborhood. The secondary data was gathered through 'Minding the Gap' and included focus groups with the youth and the parents separately. The results showed that due to lack of resources, limited resources for activities, social stigma, crime, and need for financial independence, growing up in poverty can lead to social exclusion. Via anger, loneliness, and shame, this social exclusion in turn leads to mental health problems. These results can be build on to find the most effective policies to decrease mental health problems with youth.