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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Denise Zabkiewicz, MPH and Laura Schmidt, PhD. University of California, Berkeley, Department of Epidemiology, Public Health Institute, Alcohol Research Group, 2000 Hearst Ave., Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94709, 510.642.5208, dzabkiewicz@arg.org
Objective: The goal of the 1996 Welfare Reform legislation is to move clients from "welfare-to-work". Although many welfare recipients have found employment in a strong economy, there is evidence that welfare recipients who are depressed or have substance abuse problems have more difficulty in getting or keeping a job. The recent economic downturn and the upcoming welfare reauthorization debates call for research examining the circumstances that contribute to the need for public aid. Methods: The relationship between depression and substance abuse comorbidity and reason for welfare application is examined in a cohort of welfare applicants (n=1504) from a large California county surveyed during the summer-fall of 2001. The association between comorbidity and initiation of TANF or GA benefits due to a recent job loss was assessed. Cases are compared on the basis of their previous history of welfare receipt. Results: The majority of applicants (73%) had a previous history of welfare receipt and 36% reported a recent job loss as a reason for seeking public aid. The relationship between comorbidity and job loss differed by gender. Among males with a prior history of aid, comorbidity and depression were significantly related to job loss (OR=2.22 and OR=2.04, respectively). Among females and first time applicants, no relationship was found. Conclusion: The impact of comorbidity problems on welfare applicants and their chances for economic mobility is substantial. In addition to being well-documented barriers to employment, they may also inhibit job retention. With a declining economy and the mandated welfare time limits, more research attention should be paid to circumstances that precipitate welfare entries, particularly surrounding issues related to employment.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Depression, Welfare
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.