The Effect of Employment on the Mental Health of Lone Mothers in the UK Before and After New Labour’s Welfare Reforms

Abstract

Since 1999 a series of reforms have been introduced to the UK welfare system with the aim of increasing rates of lone parent employment. Increased employment was expected not only to reduce rates of lone parent poverty but to provide wider benefits, including improvements in lone parents' mental health. Yet for lone mothers there is very little evidence on how work influences mental health. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) between 1991 and 2008 this paper assesses how lone mothers' mental health, measured in the BHPS using the General Health Questionnaire, is influenced by employment and how this relationship changed over the period of welfare reform. A range of panel data models are estimated and the results and compare the results for lone mothers are compared to those for mothers with partners.

Effects of social security policy reforms on mental health and inequalities: A systematic review of observational studies in high-income countries

“…The mental health impact of these policies was explored by two studies in the review. They found significant positive effects on adults (Gregg et al, 2009;Harkness, 2016) and children (Gregg et al, 2009). Gregg et al (2009) investigated the effects of the policy changes that were introduced in 1999 on mental health of lone mothers and their adolescent children.…”

“…J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Harkness (2016) explored whether the relationship between work and mental health for working lone mothers had changed as a result of an extension to the above described reform package from 2003 of a further increase to benefit generosity for low-income families. The results indicate that, prior to the reform there was little relationship between work and mental health.…”

Mothering Experiences: How Single Parenthood and Employment Structure the Emotional Valence of Parenting

“…Similarly, a series of studies examining the transition from welfare to work in the 1990s suggest neutral or slightly positive effects of single mothers’ employment on children (Chase-Lansdale et al 2003; Gennetian and Miller 2002; Huston et al 2001; Duncan et al 2007; Johnson et al 2012). Likewise, Harkness (2014) shows how single mothers’ mental health improved significantly more than that of partnered mothers when they entered paid work after the 1990s welfare reforms in the United Kingdom.…”

How Did Employment and Financial Strain Affect the Self-rated Health of Lone Mothers Around the Time of the Economic Crisis? A Cross-sectional Comparison of the United Kingdom and Sweden

“…17 It enhances health through income generation, social inclusion, and improved mental well-being. 18 For lone mothers, however, the impact on health may differ. On the one hand, employment allows lone mothers who may be marginalized from society to integrate, build social support, and improve skills weakened from time out of work.…”