Rukmalie Jayakody

Mental Health Problems Among Single Mothers: Implications for Work and Welfare Reform

Welfare reforms emphasis on work and self-sufficiency assumes that poor single mothers are similar in their status and functioning to the rest of the population. However, we find that their status is quite distinct. Logistic regression results reveal that the likelihood of working is 25% lower for those with a psychiatric disorder. Mental health problems may prevent women from undertaking the tasks necessary to find employment, or women with these problems may lack the self-confidence needed to take on new challenges. Our findings suggest that mental health problems among single mothers deserve greater attention as a barrier to self-sufficiency and highlight the need for more effective intervention and treatment efforts to improve economic and social outcomes.

Substance Use among Welfare Recipients: Trends and Policy Responses

Substance use by welfare recipients is frequently mentioned as a barrier to well‐being and social performance. This article uses nationally representative cross‐sectional data and Michigan‐specific panel data to summarize trends in substance use among AFDC/TANF recipients. It also examines the prevalence of substance dependence within the welfare population. Although almost 20 percent of welfare recipients report recent use of some illicit drug during the year, few satisfy criteria for drug or alcohol dependence as indicated by the short‐form Composite International Diagnostic Interview. The article concludes by considering policy responses to substance use disorders following welfare reform.

International family change: Ideational perspectives

In this chapter we summarize the literature about ideational influences on family formation behaviors in the United States. The U.S. population has been characterized by substantial changes in marriage, divorce, childbearing, cohabitation, and gender roles over the past half century. We begin by describing these changes briefly as background for our summary of research on ideational influences on those changes. Then we review the key streams of social theory motivating research into the influence of ideational factors on changes in family formation processes in the United States. Next we review the powerful measurement resources that have fueled unparalleled research on this topic in the United States, again very briefly. Finally we turn to a topic-by-topic review of the literature on ideational influences on cohabiting, marital, divorce and childbearing behavior. Because the empirical literature on ideational influences on family change in the United States is large, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive review of that literature here. Nevertheless, the summary we provide points toward key insights into ideational influences on family change.

Race Differences in Intergenerational Financial Assistance The Needs of Children and the Resources of Parents

Recent studies consistently report that Whites are more likely than African Americans to receive economic assistance from their families. Explanations of why Whites receive more assistance, however, have not been adequately explored. The current research hypothesizes that financial transfers from parents to adult children are guided by both the needs of children and the resources of their parents. Yet, the majority of prior research has considered the characteristics of only one end of the transfer flow—either the giver or the receiver, but not both. When both needs and resources are taken into account, and when family structure is adequately controlled, it is expected that race differences in the receipt of financial assistance will be reduced or eliminated. Probit models are used to examine the probability of receiving assistance, and a censored regression tobit model examines the amount received.

Drug testing welfare recipients—false positives, false negatives, unanticipated opportunities

Substance abuse and dependence are among the most common psychiatric disorders among pregnant and parenting women. These disorders among welfare recipients have attracted special concern. Chemical testing has been proposed to identify illicit drug use in this population. This analysis scrutinizes the potential value of drug testing, using recent data from the Womens Employment Study and the National Household Survey of Drug Abuse. One-fifth of recipients reported illicit substance use during the previous year. However, less than 5% satisfied diagnostic screening criteria for illicit drug dependence. Most recipients with psychiatric disorders or alcohol dependence reported no recent illicit drug use, and, thus, would not be detected through chemical tests. Although illicit drug users are rarely dependent, many face barriers to self-sufficiency. Screening and assessment programs should distinguish use from dependence, and should also identify alcohol dependence and psychiatric disorders. States should provide a range of treatment services to address these concerns.

Social Change and Fathering: Change or Continuity in Vietnam?

Dramatic social changes have restructured virtually all aspects of Vietnam society. Although the economic consequences of these changes are well documented, little is known about how family roles and relationships have been affected. Because social and cultural contexts powerfully shape conceptions of parenting, the accelerated rate of social change in Vietnam may have reconfigured notions of fatherhood and fathering. Through increased globalization, Western notions of the modern, involved father and these more egalitarian views of household relationships may indicate a more involved father in Vietnam today. However, Vietnam’s strong Confucian heritage, its kinship structure, and its unique history could limit the adoption of fathers as equal co-parents. This article examines changes over time in attitudes toward the father role and the extent of father involvement.

Perspectives on international family change

In this chapter we summarize the literature about ideational influences on family formation behaviors in the United States. The U.S. population has been characterized by substantial changes in marriage, divorce, childbearing, cohabitation, and gender roles over the past half century. We begin by describing these changes briefly as background for our summary of research on ideational influences on those changes. Then we review the key streams of social theory motivating research into the influence of ideational factors on changes in family formation processes in the United States. Next we review the powerful measurement resources that have fueled unparalleled research on this topic in the United States, again very briefly. Finally we turn to a topic-by-topic review of the literature on ideational influences on cohabiting, marital, divorce and childbearing behavior. Because the empirical literature on ideational influences on family change in the United States is large, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive review of that literature here. Nevertheless, the summary we provide points toward key insights into ideational influences on family change.