Title
Contents
Acknowledgements 6
The Author 7
Summary 8
1. Introduction 13
1.1 Background 13
1.2 Aims and objectives of the review 13
1.3 Methodology 14
1.4 Evidence sources 15
1.5 Report structure 16
2. Researching poverty from a subjective perspective 18
2.1 Research with people living in poverty 19
2.1.1 Group research 20
2.1.2 In-depth research 21
2.1.3 Case studies 21
2.1.4 Participatory research 22
2.2 Understanding poverty as a social experience: overall messages from research 24
2.2.1 What does poverty mean to people who experience it? 24
3. Listening to children: the impact of poverty in childhood 26
3.1 Overview of key studies that engage directly with low-income children and young people 26
3.2 Key dimensions of disadvantage: the economic, social and emotional effects of poverty in childhood 28
3.2.1 The economic and material effects of poverty for children 29
3.2.2 The impact of poverty on social relationships 31
3.2.3 The emotional impact of poverty 34
3.3 Living with poverty: children's experiences of poverty in their home lives 35
3.3.1 Housing: the impact of poverty on children's home environment 36
3.3.2 Children's relationships with their parents and other family members 39
3.3.3 Children's strategies for coping with poverty and disadvantage at home 41
3.4 Neighbourhood and public services 44
3.4.1 Children's perceptions of living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods 44
3.4.2 Children's experiences of public services 47
3.5 Employment: children's experiences of low-income parental employment, childcare and their own employment 49
3.5.1 Low-income working family life 50
3.6 School 54
3.6.1 Material disadvantage at school 55
3.6.2 Social disadvantage at school 56
3.6.3 Relationships at school: teachers and peers 57
3.6.4 Institutional processes at school 60
3.7 Summary 60
4. Listening to parents: accounts of family life and parenting under pressure 63
4.1 Overview of key studies that engage with low-income parents 64
4.2 The impact of poverty on family life and parenting 66
4.2.1 Financial stress: parenting on a low-income 66
4.2.2 Seasonal costs and expenditure 68
4.2.3 Sickness and disability 69
4.2.4 Financial management: the challenges of budgeting on a low income 70
4.2.5 Debt 71
4.2.6 Coping strategies 73
4.3 Parenting under pressure: parents' perceptions of the impact of poverty on children's lives and family relationships 74
4.3.1 Neighbourhoods, housing and parenting 78
4.4 Low-income parental employment and balancing work and care 79
4.4.1 Low-income employment 80
4.4.2 Caring responsibilities 83
4.5 Low-income parents' experiences of public service 87
4.6 Summary 93
5. Concluding comments and recommendations for future research priorities 95
5.1 Children's experiences of poverty 95
5.2 Parents' experience of poverty and parenting under pressure 96
5.3 Future research with low-income children and families 96
5.4 Methodological insights 98
References 99
Table 3.1 Qualitative UK studies which focus on developing an overall understanding of the impact of poverty on children's lives, 1998 onwards 28
Table 4.1 Qualitative UK studies which focus on the impact of poverty on family life and parenting, 1998 onwards 64
Table 4.2 Financial management strategies deployed by low-income family households 73
Boxes
Box 2.1 Voices of people experiencing poverty in Scotland: Everyone matters? Green (2007) 20
Box 2.2 Voices of Experience project: Women's Budget Group 22
Box 2.3 Poverty First Hand: Poor People Speak for Themselves 23
Box 3.1 Case Study: Kim 32
Box 3.2 Case Study: Ben 38
Box 3.3 Children's views of family life and poverty 41
Box 3.4 Case Study: Molly 51
Box 3.5 Case Study: Josie and Alfie 52
Box 3.6 Case Study: Laura 54
Box 3.7 Children's views on what makes a good teacher 58
Box 3.8 Children's descriptions of bullying 59
Box 4.1 Case Study: Leah 67
Box 4.2 Case Study: Julie 69
Box 4.3 Case Study: Sarah 82
Box 4.4 Case Study: Megan 85
Box 4.5 Case study: Jennifer and David 87