title: A comparison of psychosocial barriers among welfare recipients: implications for drug treatment.
abstract: Implementation of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) presents welfare recipients with time-limited benefits and work requirements. However, it is estimated that over 140,000 welfare recipients meet the DSM-IV criteria for "drug dependence". In this study, samples of chronic drug using and non-drug using female TANF recipients were compared with regard to: current employment, psychological functioning, self-perceived employment skills, barriers to employment, and need for help in seeking employment. It was found that non-drug using study participants were significantly more likely to be employed and reported significantly higher self-perceived work skills than users. Chronic users reported significantly greater barriers to seeking employment.
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Systems Corporation, Houston, Texas, USA. imontoya@affiliatedsystems.com
authors.forename: I D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Montoya
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Struse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011203:Poverty; D012946:Social Welfare / Q000523:psychology*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*