Discrimination can negatively affect young children in several important ways, impacting their mental health, behavior, development, and overall well-being.
Mental Health Impact
Discrimination experienced by young children can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and lowered self-esteem. Even children as young as 7 are sensitive to and suffer the psychological effects of discrimination. These effects can manifest as internalized problems such as anxiety and depression, as well as externalized behavior problems like oppositionality.
Behavioral and Developmental Effects
Discrimination is associated with increased behavioral problems and can disrupt children's social relationships and development. It can also negatively influence their academic self-concept and school performance indirectly, although the evidence on academic impact is more mixed. Children facing discrimination often experience social exclusion and face challenges in school environments.
Physical Health Consequences
The stress caused by discrimination and related mental health challenges can affect children's physical health. Discrimination contributes to chronic stress which harms biological systems, potentially leading to long-term effects such as cardiovascular problems and obesity, and lowers general health. Mental health impacts like depression and anxiety often present earlier and can then lead to physical health problems later.
Protective Factors
A strong, positive ethnic-racial identity in children can buffer against some negative effects of discrimination. Children who understand and feel connected to their ethnic or racial groups tend to have better psychological well-being and fewer behavioral issues following discrimination than those with less developed ethnic-racial identity.
Social and Educational Challenges
Discrimination also amplifies social exclusion and unequal opportunities, leading to disparities in learning and development. Children from marginalized ethnic or racial groups are often at a disadvantage in educational settings and may experience systemic and interpersonal discrimination affecting their lifelong prospects.
In summary, discrimination can deeply affect young children by increasing mental health issues, behavioral challenges, disruption to development, and social exclusion, with ripple effects on physical health and educational outcomes. Building strong ethnic-racial identity and creating supportive environments are crucial for mitigating these harms.
