Family Facts: Social Science Research on Family, Society & Religion
Featured Finding
The Impact of Marriage on Young Mothers' Welfare Dependence
August 7, 2006
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Data: Women who gave birth to their first child within a marriage
that subsequently ended received welfare assistance for the same
number of years as those who gave birth to their first child out
of wedlock. In contrast, women who gave birth to their first child
within a marriage that remained intact received welfare benefits
for significantly fewer years...(more) This month marks the tenth anniversary of the 1996 welfare reform, which, among other goals, sought to address the link between the absence of marriage and government dependency. Research continues to indicate that marriage is among the factors that affect young mothers' welfare status. Analyzing the marriage, childbearing, and welfare histories of 2,070 women aged 14 to 30, researcher Molly Martin found that marital status influenced the total number of years that young mothers received cash assistance welfare. After adjusting for the effects of the mothers' family background and personal characteristics, Martin found that those not married at the time of their first child's birth tended to report receiving welfare for a greater number of years than those who were married*. Marital stability also matters. Women who gave birth to their first child within a marriage that remained intact reported receiving welfare benefits for three years fewer, on average, than women who were not been married at the time of the birth of their first child. In contrast, women who gave birth to their first child within a marriage that subsequently ended reported receiving welfare for the same number of years, on average, as women who gave birth to their first child out of wedlock. These findings suggest that marital status at birth and marital stability significantly influence the length of time that young mothers receive welfare assistance. *Data were collected from 1968 to 1990, and respondents were subject to the rules of the previous welfare program, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), which did not place time limits on the receipt of welfare benefits. |
Other
findings on family leisure patterns:
 Spousal perceptions of the benefits of marriage and the difficulty of divorce influence the likelihood that a couple will remain married or divorce...(more) Spouses' family relationships while growing up impact the quality of their marriage...(more) Family Research Experts:
Pat Fagan William H. G. FitzGerald Research Fellow in Family and Cultural Issues Christine Kim Policy Analyst, Domestic Policy Studies Jennifer Marshall Director, Domestic Policy Studies For Interviews call Media Relations at (202) 675-1761 |
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Events:Religious Practice and Civic Life: What the Research Says October 4, 2007 |