The Neuroscience of Social Exclusion: Developmental and Public Health Implications Across the Life-Course

Abstract

The Ibero-American community, through the Ibero-American Network of Cognitive Neuroscience, is actively discussing the neurocognitive effects of social exclusion, which generates inequitable access to resources and interpersonal relationships. Ibero-Americans, including those in Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries, have identified teen parents’ families as one of the marginalized populations suffering social exclusion and thus have measurable physiological impacts on neurocognitive development. Social stress in teen mothers is prevalent, with 48% of young mothers reporting high toxic stress levels. Multiple studies have identified high levels of fetal cortisol due to high maternal stress, which has been found to increase neurocognitive development and behavioral pathologies. These physical and systemic environmental risk factors have been recognized to act in a cumulative and life-course manner, promoting cyclical and multigenerational impacts for families and communities. We argue that this compelling evidence should generate a deep self-assessment of our deeds as professionals and community since our biases and marginalizing actions as a system produce profound and life-course negative health outcomes for teen parents’ families.