The effects of uneducated parents on low-income students

Uneducated parents may have negative effects on the development of a child's personality. Lack of education combined with a low income influences all aspects of a child's life, including her physical health. A child follows the example of her parents. When she observes the anxiety felt by living on a low income, she takes this anxiety on herself.

A study conducted by the University of Punjab on the effect of a mother's educational level on a child's personality revealed that a mother's education has a strong influence on the extroversion of a child's personality. In the study it was found that a mother with a higher education level is more likely to have to have a more extroverted child. There is no study drawing a connection between extroversion and anxiety. However, in contrast, an introverted child may encounter issues with socialising with peers and authority figures.

Children raised under the influence of socioeconomic struggles tend to have socioeconomic struggles themselves as adults. This is because a child in a low-income living situation often is more likely to start working younger and is less likely to pursue higher education as an adult. This will limit promotional opportunities and growth in the workplace.

The relationship between a child's physical health and a parent's health begins in the womb. A study complied by John Ermisch titled "How Do Parents Affect the Life Chances of Their Children as Adults? An Idiosyncratic Review," investigates the effects of all parental behaviours on a developing child. The study finds that parents with lower incomes, possibly as the result of a lower education, are less able to provide sufficient medical care for a child with chronic health conditions, thus leading to major health concerns later in life.

A parent's belief system directly affects a child's values as an adult. A parent who makes education a priority is more likely to inspire achievement in a child. This implies that a parent who is uneducated with a low income can instil motivation in a child by handing down a strong belief in education. It also means that the importance a low-income parent places on income can eclipse a value in education.