Exploring the Mental Health Correlates of Welfare Stigmatization, Violent Crime, and Property Crime

Abstract

Stigmatization of individuals who utilize public welfare in the United States is prevalent and correlates with negative mental health outcomes. Poverty has often been associated with violence and crime, which exacerbates stigmatization of people experiencing poverty. Hence, the study applied the empowerment perspective in examining public nutritional assistance as an empowering intervention. It was hypothesized that public nutritional assistance would be negatively associated with violent crime and property crime. Bivariate and multivariate statistical methods were applied in examining how utilization of public nutritional assistance is associated with the prevalence of violent crime and property crime in a US city. Findings showed inverse relationships between public nutritional assistance and property crime, while violent crime maintained a positive association with property crime. Implications for advocacy, mental health, social work education, and social policy are discussed.