The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64178

Julia F. Hastings, MSW, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Michigan, 1080 South University, Room B660, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106, (734) 615-2103, jhasting@umich.edu

Poor women receiving welfare are underdiagnosed for depression and therefore, left untreated. The growing welfare literature establishes that depressive symptoms among recipients can affect employment abilities, but it is unclear whether this problem and its consequences differ by race. This study examined 603 African American and White current and former welfare recipients from three-waves of the Women's Employment Study to determine whether racial differences in depression dependence rates, subclinical depressive symptoms, and correlates to depressive symptoms cause change over time. No significant racial differences in diagnosed depression rates existed. However, racial differences were found for subclinical depressive symptoms. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) of depressive symptoms revealed strong evidence for race and the mental health of the respondents' mother as significantly decreasing the number of depressive symptoms reported over time. High stress related significantly to increasing reports of depressive symptoms over time, yet the respondents' race did not play a significant contextual role. In sum, exposure to environmental stressors may increase the risk of depressive symptoms among African American women facing welfare regulations and social workers should identify strategies to respond to this population.

Learning Objectives:

Session participants will be able to:
• describe welfare research findings on racial differences in the prevalence and correlates of depression;
• identify social and environmental barriers to self-sufficiency faced by poor African American women depressive symptoms; and
• discuss the impact of budget constraints in health and social services on poor African American women.

Keywords: Depression, Poverty

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.