We describe changes over time in work, welfare, and fertility among 435 minority, low-income, inner-city mothers from pregnancy through their babies' first three years. We use multi-level logistic and linear regression to model employment status (working; working full time) and well-being (depression, self-esteem, and difficult life circumstances) at 12, 24, and 36 months. Non-time-varying predictors are mother's ethnicity (African American vs. Mexican American); age; parity; and education; recent household employment experience; birth cohort; and initial welfare participation. Time and fertility (repeat pregnancy at 12, 24, and 36 months) are nested within individuals.
Welfare participation, initially 80%, declined to 46% by 36 months. Repeat pregnancy varied from 12% in the first year to 29% in the third. Maternal employment increased from 12% at intake to 44% at 36 months. Likelihood of working was enhanced by high school education and household work experience, and hindered by repeat pregnancy. Time and ethnicity interacted with initial welfare status. Among those initially on welfare, working increased over time; among non-welfare-recipients, African Americans were more likely to work. Full-time employment increased with time (from 6% to 29%), high school education, and household employment experience; repeat pregnancy decreased it. When causally prior predictors were controlled, employment decreased difficult life circumstances but did not affect depression or self-esteem.
Learning Objectives: 1) Describe patterns of work, welfare, and fertility over a three-year period among minority, low-income, inner-city mothers. 2) Consider the causal impact of employment and other predictors on maternal well-being.
Keywords: Welfare Reform, Women's Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.