Childhood Adultification in Economically Disadvantaged Families: A Conceptual Model*

Abstract

This article presents an emergent conceptual model of childhood adultification and economic disadvantage derived from 5 longitudinal ethnographies of children and adolescents growing up in low-income families. Childhood adultification involves contextual, social, and developmental processes in which youth are prematurely, and often inappropriately, exposed to adult knowledge and assume extensive adult roles and responsibilities within their family networks. Exemplar cases from the ethnographies are integrated in the discussion to illustrate components of the model. Four successive levels of adultification are described: precocious knowledge, mentored-adultification, peerification/spousification, and parentification. The developmental assets and liabilities children incur also are discussed. Recommendations for school, health care, and social service practitioners working with low-income families and children are provided.

A Longitudinal Daily Diary Study of Family Assistance and Academic Achievement Among Adolescents from Mexican, Chinese, and European Backgrounds

“…Helping on most days may suggest that the adolescents' assistance is a daily necessity, perhaps due to economic or social stresses in the household. Indeed, children in families experiencing economic difficulties are more likely to assume responsibilities and be involved in household chores compared to their better-off peers (Burton 2007;Elder 1974). Further, taking on extensive responsibilities within difficult family contexts may lead to compromised academic performance and lower achievement (Burton 2007).…”

“…Indeed, children in families experiencing economic difficulties are more likely to assume responsibilities and be involved in household chores compared to their better-off peers (Burton 2007;Elder 1974). Further, taking on extensive responsibilities within difficult family contexts may lead to compromised academic performance and lower achievement (Burton 2007). Together, these studies suggest that assistance as a frequent and chronic activity may be too difficult for some teenagers to manage.…”

“…Similarly, adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds spend a significant amount of time caring for their siblings and doing household chores such as cooking and cleaning (Fuligni et al 1999;Hardway and Fuligni 2006). In addition, youth from economically disadvantaged households often help manage their families' finances, take on a job, or work for the family business in order to contribute to the financial needs of their family (Burton 2007). Thus, family assistance likely plays a key role in adolescents' development, and the demands associated with these family assistance behaviors may detract from youths' study time and make it difficult for them to effectively manage their time between school and family work.…”

“…In addition, young adults who provide financial support to their family are less likely to pursue postsecondary school, and those who live with their parents receive lower grades (Fuligni and Witkow 2004). Finally, youth who engage in very high levels of family assistance within economically disadvantaged families often miss school and have a diminished attachment to school (Burton 2007). Thus, for some youth, assisting the family may be stressful and hard to manage detracting from their ability to succeed in school.…”

“…Mexican and Chinese adolescents' parents, especially immigrants, usually have lower status occupations, less education, and these youth often have more family members living in residence, including grandparents and siblings, compared to their European peers (Hardway and Fuligni 2006). Family assistance within families characterized by stress or economic strain has been associated with more school problems in recent ethnographies (e.g., Burton 2007). Thus, youth who come from single-parent households, have large numbers of siblings, or have parents with lower status occupations and less education may experience more strain from their family assistance because it is taking place within more difficult family environments.…”