Background

Child maltreatment disproportionately affects families experiencing poverty and structural discrimination, including African American (AA) families. The generosity of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) may reduce child maltreatment disparities.

Objective

Our aim is to understand TANF's impact on the mother's perpetration of child maltreatment and whether the effect differs across AA and White mothers.

Participants and setting

Participants are 2457 primary caregiving mothers participating in waves 3 (2001−2003), 4 (2003–2006), and 5 (2007–2010) of the U.S.-based Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing birth cohort study.

Methods

We use a difference-in-differences study design to estimate overall and race-specific effects of TANF policies on caregivers' self-report of child neglect and physical and psychological maltreatment measured by the Child-Parent Conflict Tactics Scale. State-level TANF policy exposures include the TANF-to-Poverty Ratio (TPR), maximum cash benefits, time limits, sanctions, diversion payments, and family caps.

Results

A $100 increase in TANF benefits was associated with a reduction of 1.8 reported physical abuse events (Beta = −1.80, 95% CI (−3.29, −0.31)). Imposing a time limit on TANF receipt was associated with an increase of 2.3 reported physical abuse events (Beta = 2.27, 95% CI (0.04, 4.50)). No significant differences were found for AA mothers versus White mothers.

Conclusions and relevance

Increasing TANF cash benefits should be prioritized to reduce poverty-related child maltreatment disparities. TANF time limits should be reconsidered.

中文翻译：

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贫困家庭临时援助 (TANF) 与脆弱家庭队列中的儿童虐待之间的关联

背景

虐待儿童对遭受贫困和结构性歧视的家庭影响尤其大，其中包括非裔美国人 (AA) 家庭。贫困家庭临时援助 (TANF) 的慷慨可以减少虐待儿童的差异。

客观的

我们的目标是了解 TANF 对母亲虐待儿童行为的影响，以及这种影响在 AA 母亲和白人母亲之间是否不同。

参与者和设置

参与者是参与美国脆弱家庭和儿童健康出生队列研究第 3 波（2001-2003 年）、第 4 波（2003-2006 年）和第 5 波（2007-2010 年）的 2457 名主要照顾母亲。

方法

我们使用差异研究设计来估计 TANF 政策对照料者自我报告的儿童忽视和身心虐待的总体和特定种族影响，该儿童父母冲突战术量表测量。州级 TANF 政策风险包括 TANF 贫困率 (TPR)、最大现金福利、时间限制、制裁、转移支付和家庭上限。

结果

TANF 福利增加 100 美元与报告的身体虐待事件减少 1.8 相关（Beta = −1.80, 95% CI (−3.29, −0.31)）。对 TANF 接收施加时间限制与报告的身体虐待事件增加 2.3 相关（Beta = 2.27, 95% CI (0.04, 4.50)）。AA 母亲与白人母亲没有发现显着差异。

结论和相关性

应优先增加 TANF 现金福利，以减少与贫困相关的儿童虐待差异。应重新考虑 TANF 时间限制。