New studies: Children in poverty struggle significantly more than their peers

On 27 out of 53 indicators important for children’s health, relationships, and school life, children living in poverty thrive worse than their peers. They report lower life satisfaction, feel lonely more often, have less confidence in their own abilities, experience less support from teachers and family, and feel less welcomed and accepted by classmates. They also have a less healthy and active everyday life than their peers.

According to a new study by the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) at the University of Southern Denmark, supplemented by an interview study conducted by SUS – Social Development Centre. Both were commissioned for Egmont Insight by Egmont in collaboration with Save the Children Denmark, Mødrehjælpen, and Danish People’s Aid.

“It is deeply concerning that children and young people from low-income families not only struggle with financial deprivation but are also affected in so many other crucial areas of childhood,” says Heidi Sørensen, Director of Egmont Grant Administration. “Growing up in poverty can have serious consequences – not only for children and young people here and now, but also for their chances of pursuing education and entering the job market. That is why we believe society must act.”

Children and young people give their recommendations

In the interview study, 19 children and young people from low-income families recognize many of the challenges highlighted in the NIPH analysis. For several of them, it is the accumulation of different challenges that makes daily life feel heavy. Many also express that they miss having adults who meet them with positive expectations and provide support in their daily lives. Several explain that their parents do not always have the same opportunities to help them as other parents do, even if they want to. This is partly about finances, but also more broadly about education and resources.

In the study, both the children and young people, as well as a number of professionals, provide recommendations on how society can better support children and young people living in poverty. Among other things, they call for professionals in schools and day cares to be better equipped to support children in poverty, for leisure activities to become more accessible, and for parental contributions to school and extracurricular activities to be minimized, so that all children and young people have the opportunity to participate in the community – regardless of their family’s financial situation.

A shared responsibility to give children equal opportunities
The two studies were carried out in collaboration with Danish People’s Aid, Mødrehjælpen, and Save the Children Denmark. Like Egmont, these three organizations have long worked to raise awareness of child poverty and to improve the lives of the roughly 50,000 children and their families affected in Denmark.

“It is unacceptable that, in our wealthy welfare society, there are children growing up in poverty. Ensuring equal opportunities for all children in Denmark is a societal responsibility, which is why close cooperation between municipalities and civil society is essential, so that we together can ensure that children in poverty are safe and included in their communities,” says Secretary General of Danish People’s Aid, Mirka Mozer.

“A childhood in poverty has serious consequences, and action is needed. This autumn’s municipal election is an opportunity for politicians to put children first: All municipalities should develop clear action plans to address child poverty in collaboration with civil society, and they must listen to children when, for example, they say that leisure activities need to be more accessible. This can be achieved by providing children in poverty with a leisure pass and support from municipal leisure advisors,” says Director of Mødrehjælpen, Ninna Thomsen.

“For the first time in years, the number of children in poverty has increased. We are a wealthy country, and the fact that around 50,000 children are growing up in poverty – living every day with the worries, stress, and deprivations of not being able to afford meals or join a football club – is unacceptable. This affects both their well-being and their opportunities. We all need to act on this, and every municipality in Denmark must do much more to fight the consequences of child poverty,” says Secretary General of Save the Children Denmark, Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen.

Last year, the three organizations, together with other actors in the network “Children in Poverty? No, thanks”, presented an action plan against child poverty to show how foundations, municipalities, businesses, and other actors can contribute to addressing child poverty and its consequences.

Read more about the two studies and find additional information at www.egmont.com/insight