Investigating the factors that cause stress in young children and how this affects their concentration

Written By: Author(s): Sam Wass
12 min read
I am a research scientist based at the University of East London, who receives funding from mainly government-funded research sources. The main focus of my research is on investigating the factors that cause stress in young children, and how this affects their concentration. When I was approached by the Assistant Headteacher of a local school, I jumped at the opportunity for us to do some research together. The school is an inner-city school in a highly ethnically diverse and socio-economically challenged area, and the kinds of children who attend are exactly the kinds of children I am interested in understanding better. The research followed ethical guidelines with informed consent. Stress systems and their impact on children One of the main focuses of my research is on trying to understand the mechanisms that lead to poorer mental health outcomes in people from the lowest socio-economic brackets. We know that children who grow up in particularly poor families are four times more li

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This article was published in March 2019 and reflects the terminology and understanding of research and evidence in use at the time. Some terms and conclusions may no longer align with current standards. We encourage readers to approach the content with an understanding of this context.

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