Sources of Support, Child Care, and Hardship Among Unwed Mothers, 1991-2001

Publication Year
2004

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Welfare rolls have declined substantially since 1994. However, little is known about the coping strategies that poor mothers use to manage the competing demands of rearing and supporting their children under the new welfare regime. This article uses data from the national Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study to describe the sources of support and child-care arrangements upon which unwed mothers relied, as well as the difficulties they faced, approximately 5 years after welfare reform. Findings suggest that levels of hardship among unwed mothers are high and that cohabitation and employment are not associated with improved material conditions.

Journal
Social Service Review
Volume
78
Issue
1
Pages
125-148