Abstract
Introduction
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families requirements can be stress-inducing, difficult for families to complete, and may be detrimental during early life. We assessed the impact of TANF requirements on primary caregiving mothers’ experiences of material hardship, anxiety, depression, and parental aggravation in the first year of a child’s life.
Methods
Survey responses were selected from mothers in the Future of Families and Childhood Wellbeing Study, who received TANF in the first year of their child’s life (N = 1085).
Results
Survey-weighted regression models showed associations between: presence of any requirements and increased material hardship, work requirements and increased material hardship, requirement to name the father of their child and increased depression, benefit cuts and increased parental aggravation, and benefit cuts and increased material hardship.
Discussion
Federal and state policies should revise requirement programs to increase program accessibility and support the mental health and financial stability of mothers applying for TANF to facilitate sustainable movement into employment.
Significance
Previous research has demonstrated negative health impacts associated with TANF implementation and distribution for low-income families. This study is one of the first to examine the relationship between experiencing specific TANF benefit requirements and maternal mental health, parental aggravation, and material hardship outcomes within a nationally representative sample. Findings showing significant associations between presence of requirements, driven by specific requirement types, with increased rates of material hardship, depression, and parental aggravation. Results suggest state level policy changes are needed to reduce unnecessary harm being done to vulnerable families.
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Data Availability
Data must be requested through Fragile Families Child Wellbeing Survey (https://fragilefamilies.princeton.edu/).
Code Availability
Code for analyses will be made available as a supplemental.SAS program file.
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Acknowledgements
Research reported in this publication was supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers R01HD036916, R01HD039135, and R01HD040421, as well as a consortium of private foundations. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Funding
This study was supported by funds from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Grant No: R01CE003104, Award: Evaluating family economic policies as primary prevention strategies to prevent family and youth violence, PIs Woods-Jaeger and Livingston).
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AW: Analyses, writing, revisions, figures and tables. RAS: Writing introduction/discussion sections, revisions/edits, analyses, theoretical framework. EL: Writing introduction/discussion, revision/edits on multiple drafts. BW-J: Writing introduction, discussion, providing edits and feedback on multiple drafts. KAK: Writing introduction, discussion, providing edits and feedback on multiple drafts. MDL: Edits and revisions on multiple drafts, supervising analyses
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Walker, A., Spencer, R.A., Lemon, E. et al. The Impact of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Benefit Requirements and Sanctions on Maternal Material Hardship, Mental Health, and Parental Aggravation. Matern Child Health J 27, 1392–1400 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-023-03699-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-023-03699-0