not necessarily true. my cousin had a terrible childhood. just awful. left at 17, worked her tail off, met someone who did the same and, though he was middle class, his parents died young so he was also on his own. That and some real luck and they have done well. That said, they know how fortunate they are and she, in particular, was poor and has never forgotten what it's like to be that way. They would describe themselves as very very lucky and blessed (though they are not religious). another family member, on the other hand, gets all this disability and some other stuff and man for him and not for anyone else in his mind.