Rhetoric and Reality of Economic Self-sufficiency Among Rural, Low-Income Mothers: A Longitudinal Study

Leigh Simmons (), Elizabeth Dolan () and Bonnie Braun ()

Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 2007, vol. 28, issue 3, 489-505

Abstract: This study examined the contributions of maternal labor force participation and marital status on economic self-sufficiency over time for rural mothers. Data were from 174 rural families participating in three waves of data collection in Rural Families Speak. χ 2 and multiple logistic regression were utilized. Results revealed only one-third of mothers moved toward economic self-sufficiency over three years. Maternal education, employment status, and weekly work hours were associated with improved economic well-being. Compared to single-parent families, unmarried-couple and married-couple families had increased odds of improving economically. In an analysis of all mothers with partners, married or unmarried, martial status was not significant in economic improvement. Findings suggest the role of marriage in welfare reform for rural families should be reconsidered. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2007

Keywords: Economic self-sufficiency; Labor force participation; Marriage; Rural; Welfare reform (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:28:y:2007:i:3:p:489-505

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DOI: 10.1007/s10834-007-9071-x

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