Mental health, employment, and welfare tenure

This article determines the prevalence of mental health diagnosis and impairment among 632 participants in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and describes the relationship between these problems and welfare tenure and employment. A random sample of female TANF participants was surveyed in two California counties consecutively for 3 years, starting in 1999. TANF participants who have mental health problems are more likely than those who have none to leave welfare as a result of sanction and less likely to work at all. They also work fewer weeks in a year and fewer hours per week. In the course of 36 months, their earned income is substantially lower than that of those who do not have mental health problems. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 587–609, 2005.