Date of Conferral
10-21-2026
Date of Award
October 2026
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Nursing
Advisor
Janice Long
Abstract
Childhood poverty is a social determinant of health associated with adverse mental health outcomes among children, yet limited research has examined this relationship from the perspectives of nurse professionals working in Southern Appalachia. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore nurse professionals’ perceptions of the influence of childhood poverty on children’s mental health in Southern Appalachia. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs served as the theoretical framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 licensed nurse professionals who worked with children in the region, and data were analyzed thematically using ATLAS.ti. Three overarching themes emerged: (a) poverty creates unmet needs and chronic stress that affect the whole child, (b) nurses serve as trusted frontline responders to poverty-related mental health needs, and (c) system-level supports and protective factors can mitigate the effects of childhood poverty. Participants described unmet basic needs and chronic stress as contributing to emotional, behavioral, developmental, and physical concerns and identified nursing relationships, trauma-informed care, early identification, advocacy, and care coordination as important responses. Rural barriers limited access to mental health services, whereas prevention, collaboration, supportive relationships, and resilience were viewed as protective influences. Future research should include the perspectives of children and caregivers and examine interventions that may reduce poverty-related mental health disparities. The findings may contribute to positive social change by informing holistic nursing care, early intervention, and improved access to mental health services for children and families experiencing poverty in Southern Appalachia.
Recommended Citation
Gilmore, Katelyn Brooke, "Nurse Professionals’ Perceptions of Childhood Poverty and Its Impact on Southern Appalachian Children’s Mental Health" (2026). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 20946.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/20946
