Latino Potential: the Impact of Status and Stress

By Steve Moya, NewsTaco

All stress is not equal. The poor and vulnerable feel it more than the rich and accomplished.

Moises Velasquez-Manoff offers research that supports the idea that the more helpless one generally feels, when facing a given stressor the more toxic that stressor’s effects. Thus those of lower income and status are more likely to die prematurely than those at the top of society and more likely to suffer depression, heart disease and diabetes. Sadly, the stress of poverty in early life can have consequences that last into adulthood.

The lack of a sense of control is described in the research as critical and impacts racial minorities and the poor in significant ways and is exacerbated by inequality and an economic environment that leaves many in a constant state of uncertainty.  A study by Unicef ranked the U.S. number 26 in childhood well-being out of the 29 ranked countries.

Great Potential Implications: Society can’t guarantee every child a healthy and prosperous life, but in homes and schools we can be cognizant of the fact that by stressing positives and shielding children to some extent from uncertainties we just might allow them to meet the challenges of adult life with a fighting chance.

This article was first published in Great Potential: Latinos in a Changing America.

Steve Moya has a combination of entrepreneurial, consultancy and corporate experience in marketing, communications, strategy development, and public/governmental affairs with companies and entities that include Univision, the Los Angeles City Council, Moya, Villanueva and Associates and Manning, Selvage and Lee. Prior to moving into consulting he was Senior-Vice President and Chief Marketing officer for Humana, Inc. a Fortune 100 health benefits company where he was responsible for marketing, corporate communications and actively involved in corporate strategy development.

The challenge for Latinos is how to enhance their education levels and skills in order to be relevant in the information economy and meet the needs of the modern workplace at a time when federal, state, and local budgets are strained, if not declining. This book explains why an aging America needs Latinos. While it looks in-depth at the economic forces we’re facing, it focuses on strategies Latino families and communities throughout the nation can adopt to build a better future for themselves and the nation.

Interested? Click HERE to purchase Great Potential: Latinos in a Changing America.