The research, carried out by the University of Essex, used data from the Millennium Cohort Study of 2,136 mothers and their five-year-old children from ethnic minority groups.
Around 12 per cent of mothers said that racist insults or attacks were common in their residential area and 23 per cent had experienced verbal insults in the last 12 months.
Unfair treatment was reported by 20 per cent of mothers and 23 per cent unfair treatment of a family member.
Racial abuse appeared to vary according to ethnic group-Bangladeshi mothers reported more racism in their local area, whilst Black Caribbean and African mothers reported more disrespectful or unfair treatment.
Analysing the outcomes for their children at the age of five, researchers found that they were more likely to have socio-emotional issues, such as hyperactivity or problems interacting with peers, and scored lower in cognitive skills tests, which the authors say is a key influence on academic achievement. The results also showed a small increased risk of obesity.
Professor Yvonne Kelly from the University of Essex, who led the study, said, ‘Living in an area where racist attacks are perceived to be common may lead to children spending less time outside the home environment that might otherwise be the case, thus limiting the breadth and interactions and experiences with others outside the home setting. This may be further compounded by the impact of poor parental mental health, linked to experienced racism and discrimination, which is in turn likely to lead to non-favourable parent-child interactions and parenting behaviours. These influences combine to negatively impact on socio-emotional as well as cognitive behaviour.’
Commenting on the findings, Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said, ‘It is becoming increasingly clear that the experience of racism can have both direct and indirect impacts upon a child and their future life chances.
‘The ambition to reduce inequalities and improve outcomes for children is key throughout the childcare sector – and much of the success that children’s centres have had has been in their capacity to welcome a range of cultures and ethnicities in the different communities.
‘It is vital that centres continue to have an open door policy despite tightened budgets and an emphasis upon targeted support.’
- The study, ‘Associations between maternal experiences of racism and early child health and development: findings from the Millennium Cohort Study’, is published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
