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Perceptions of Health and Well‐Being Among Women in a Work‐Based Welfare Program
Author(s) -
Hildebrandt Eugenie,
Kelber Sheryl T.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.0737-1209.2005.220606.x
Subject(s) - welfare , qualitative property , population , public health , qualitative research , data collection , sample (material) , distress , perception , work (physics) , public health nursing , psychology , gerontology , nursing , medicine , environmental health , sociology , clinical psychology , political science , social science , mechanical engineering , chemistry , chromatography , machine learning , neuroscience , computer science , law , engineering
Women who are single parents, poor, and employed in low‐paying jobs have little choice about being dependent on public assistance programs to meet basic personal and family needs. Objective: To explore women's perceptions of their health and well‐being while enrolled in a work‐based welfare program. This is the second in a series of articles about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. Design and Sample: Qualitative interviews and quantitative survey methods were used to explore perceptions of health and well‐being in a purposive sample of mothers ( n = 34) enrolled in a work‐based welfare program in a city in the U.S. Midwest. Methods: Instruments used were a semistructured interview guide, a demographic data form, and the General Well‐Being Schedule (i.e., a survey tool developed for the U.S. Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). Data collection was completed in June 2000. The data were triangulated; using both quantitative and qualitative data added to the in‐depth understanding of the subjects. Results: Distress levels reported by participants were significantly higher than in the general U.S. population. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that current policies do not effectively support health and well‐being of single mothers enrolled in work‐based welfare programs.