Effects of Emotional Development on Urban Poor Children

Abstract

Since its independence in the 1960s, Malaysia has been considered one of the most successful countries in eliminating poverty, with a headcount ratio of 5.7% in the year 2004. Nevertheless, according to the World Development Indicators (WDI), Malaysia’s poverty headcount ratio climbed to 8.4 % in the year 2019. The onset of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has now further exacerbated the ongoing rise of urban poverty, which is attributed to urbanisation expansion. In urban areas, poverty may significantly affect the community’s health, environment, and social life. Urban poverty can also have psychological consequences for children. The objective of this study is to investigate the levels of stress and depression among urban poor children. A total of 327 respondents used in the research were primary and secondary school students in Puchong District, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Using SPSS, the collected data was analysed. The findings indicated that the respondents’ levels of stress and depression were moderate and low, respectively. This implies that the family’s economic situation has no significant impact on the emotional development of urban children living in poverty. The findings of this study can aid the Zakat Center, Baitulmal, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their efforts to promote human development by providing these children with the necessary assistance, particularly in the field of education.