Making space to connect : examining macroeconomic factors, cash assistance, and romantic relationship functioning in low-income contexts
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Contexts of low income generate substantial stress, which is consequential for mental health and romantic relationship functioning. In the United States, social safety net programs (e.g., Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) provide cash assistance to families with low incomes. The amount of funds provided to families varies by state, affording opportunities to test whether generous cash assistance policies benefit individual and relational wellbeing. Using data from romantically partnered mothers from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study (Study 1; N = 1,041) and Baby's First Years Study (Study 2; N = 451), I assessed whether cash benefits -- including a monthly unconditional cash transfer -- and cost of living interacted to protect mothers with low incomes from the consequences of economic hardship on their mental and relational health. In areas with low cost of living, economic hardship was associated with subsequent relationship conflict only when cash assistance was low (Study 1). Cost of living and cash assistance did not interact to buffer the influences of economic hardship on mental health, relationship quality, or relationship instability (Study 1). An unconditional cash transfer of $333/month also did not moderate these associations (Study 2). These results suggest that cash assistance programs in the United States provide inadequate funds to benefit the mental and relational wellbeing of families with low incomes.
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Ph. D.