The impact of temporary assistance for needy families, minimum wage, and Earned Income Tax Credit on Women's well-being and intimate partner violence victimization

Spencer, Rachael A.; Livingston, Melvin D.; Woods‐Jaeger, Briana; Rentmeester, Shelby T.; Sroczynski, Nolan; Komro, Kelli A.

doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113355

Cited by 17 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…To our knowledge, few studies have examined the relationship between the EITC and IPV in the United States. A study that examined the association between EITC generosity and intimate partner homicide-the most severe form of IPV-did not identify a statistically significant association (Moe et al, 2020); other studies examining relationships between economic policies and IPV-related outcomes have mixed findings (Hsu, 2017;Spencer et al, 2020). A randomized control trial of a supplemental income program with strong similarities to the EITC provides the strongest evidence to date.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence

Edmonds

Moe

Adhia

et al. 2021

J Interpers Violence

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Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem in the United States with adverse consequences for affected individuals and families. Recent reviews of the literature suggest that economic policies should be further investigated as part of comprehensive strategies to address IPV. The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the nation’s largest anti-poverty program for working parents, and especially benefits low-income women with children, who experience an elevated risk of IPV. The EITC may prevent IPV by offering financial resources; such resources may help individuals experiencing IPV leave abusive relationships or address IPV risk factors, thereby preventing entry into abusive relationships. However, the association between EITC generosity and IPV has not been previously examined. We used state-level and individual-level datasets to examine the association between EITC generosity and IPV. Our state-level data source was the nationally representative National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS; N = ~ 95,000 households per year). For NCVS, we used a difference-in-difference approach to investigate the relationship between state EITC generosity and IPV rates. We also used individual-level longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (n = 13,422 person-waves). Using this cohort of US families at higher risk for IPV, we evaluated associations between estimated EITC benefits based on the mother’s state of residence and number of children and self-reported IPV. In both state- and individual-level analyses, no significant association between state EITC benefits and IPV was found. Factors that may account for these null findings include program ineligibility for individuals who separate from abusive spouses. Future research efforts should more closely examine EITC policy implementation processes and the lived experience of participating in anti-poverty programs for people experiencing IPV.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence

Edmonds

Moe

Adhia

et al. 2021

J Interpers Violence

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“…Housing insecurity creates chaos for families that necessitates more flexibility and support from employers; thus, inflexible and unsupportive workplaces may thus further entrench disparities for vulnerable families in a vicious cycle. There have been many previous calls to improve workplace policies and procedures for women and mothers struggling with family stress (Showalter et al, 2019; Spencer et al, 2020; Swanberg et al, 2007; Yragui et al, 2012). However, actual workplace practices vary greatly by sector, occupation, size of employer, and even across individual managers and administrators.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Housing insecurity and employment stability: An investigation of working mothers

Marçal

Choi

Showalter

2023

Journal Community Psychology

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Little evidence informs the relationship between housing insecurity and employment for working mothers. The present study aimed to identify variation in work schedules and supports, as well as the link from housing insecurity to employment experiences in a sample of at‐risk mothers. Latent class analysis identified subtypes of employment stability; multinomial logistic regression estimated links from housing insecurity to class membership. Three subtypes of employment stability emerged, “Full‐Time and Stable,” “Full‐Time and Unstable,” and “Part‐Time Weekend.” Housing insecurity increased risk for being in the “Unstable” class relative to the other classes such that these mothers experienced stressful work schedules that offered little support or flexibility for family and child needs. Identifying and intervening on housing insecurity can promote stable employment. Increased workplace supports such as paid leave, flexible schedules, and antidiscrimination training can better enable mothers to juggle the competing demands of motherhood and work.

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“…There are several mechanisms by which cash transfers to those experiencing poverty can be increased both in terms of the amounts provided and access to transfers. At the state level, legislators could implement refundable Earned Income Tax Credits [79] and refundable Child Tax Credits [115] that provide monthly payments for families earning wages and have been associated with reduced violence and child poverty [78,79]. State lawmakers can also make several changes to the TANF system to allow families receiving TANF to earn more and keep more of what they earn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some suggest that more generous TANF policies, or policies that provide greater access and resources, may protect against family violence [75,76] and make contributions to wellbeing among family members [77]. However, the quantitative literature is not conclusive on TANF's role in promoting economic or emotional wellbeing [78] or violence reduction [79] and provides a limited insight into the mechanisms by which TANF policies achieve their outcomes. Furthermore, these studies suppose that TANF policies are implemented and experienced as they are written.…”

Section: Tanf As An Intervention To Promote Wellbeingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s Lived Experiences with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): How TANF Can Better Support Women’s Wellbeing and Reduce Intimate Partner Violence

Spencer

Lemon

Komro

et al. 2022

IJERPH

Self Cite

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Women experiencing poverty are more likely to face intimate partner violence (IPV), poor health, and stigma. IPV survivors are overrepresented among those who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a conditional cash program serving families experiencing poverty. More generous TANF policies may be protective against IPV, but a greater insight into TANF’s effect could be gleaned through a contemporaneous study that examines intersecting determinants of wellbeing and engages community interpretation of findings. Using an adapted Family Stress Model framework and analyzing data through an intersectional and community-based lens, we explore the impact of TANF on women’s wellbeing through in-depth, semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic with 13 women who had TANF experience in three U.S. states. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA and researchers facilitated three member-checking events to enhance validity of result interpretation. Four themes emerged: (1) Low cash and conditional benefits provided limited short-term “relief” but contributed to poverty and hard choices; (2) TANF benefit levels and conditions increased women’s dependence on others, straining relationships; (3) Women undertook extraordinary measures to access TANF, largely to fulfill their roles as mothers; and (4) TANF stigma creates psychological stress, differentially experienced by African Americans. Increasing TANF cash benefits and other cash transfers for those experiencing poverty, adopting solely state funded TANF programs, increasing funding for TANF administration, addressing TANF stigma and racialized narratives, and allowing optional child support participation or a larger “pass-through” of child support are important steps toward making TANF more protective against IPV.

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The impact of temporary assistance for needy families, minimum wage, and Earned Income Tax Credit on Women's well-being and intimate partner violence victimization

Cited by 17 publications

References 39 publications

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Intimate Partner Violence

Housing insecurity and employment stability: An investigation of working mothers

Women’s Lived Experiences with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): How TANF Can Better Support Women’s Wellbeing and Reduce Intimate Partner Violence

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