Well-Being of Arkansas & New Mexico Participants: A Longitudinal Study

CFEDSeptember 2010

Dr. Kameri Christy-McMullinDr. Marcia Shobe

University of Arkansas School of Social Work

kmcmull@uark.edu

Understanding the Study

1. Funded by the Ford Foundation

2. Quasi-experimental, bi-state (Arkansas & New Mexico), longitudinal study (N= 904)

IDA participants (n=619, 69%)

Non-IDA participants (n=239, 26%)

IDA exiters (n= 46, 5%)

3. Baseline data collected October 2006-2008IDA program start-up took longer than anticipated

Currently collecting Waves 3 and 4 data

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Research Questions

1. At baseline, after controlling for demographic, human capital and income variables, do financial assets contribute to (a) general health, (b) mental health, (c) self-efficacy, (d) economic strain, (e) social support and (f) intimate partner violence?

2. To what degree does self-selection into an IDA program influence well-being outcomes for IDA participants?

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Research Questions

3. In what way do IDA program exiters resemble either IDA program graduates or non-IDA participants?

4. After controlling for differences in demographic and outcome variables at baseline, do IDA program graduates have better well-being outcomes than either IDA-program exiters or non-IDA program participants?

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Theoretical Frameworks

Diverse theoretical foundation to reflect a holistic lens through which IDAs, well-being, social and economic development is viewed.

Behavioral Economics

Resource Theory

Social Inclusion Theory

Feminist Theory

Social Change Theory

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Variables/Outcomes

1. Demographics: gender, age, marital status, race, ethnicity, number of children, income

2. Human Capital: highest level of education attained, recent courses/training, employment status, health insurance

3. Financial Assets: homeownership, business ownership, non-IDA savings account

4. Outcomes: health, mental health, intimate partner violence, social supports, financial stability, self-efficacy and economic strain

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Outcome Measures - Scales

1. Social Capital: Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (subscale)

2. Financial Capital: Family Economic Strain Scale (FESS)

3. Self-Efficacy (4-item scale)

4. General Health (SF-12v2-subscale)

5. Mental Health (SF-12v2- subscale)

6. IPV- based on Power & Control Wheel (physical, verbal, sexual, economic , and any abuse)

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Current Status of Study

1. All of Wave 1 data have been collected:Baseline differences between IDA and non-IDA program participants?Controlling for demographics, human capital, and income, do financial assets predict increased well-being?

2. All of Wave 2 data have been collected:Controlling for baseline differences, demographics, human capital, and income, do financial assets predict better levels of well-being?

3. Most of Wave 3 data have been collected.4. 30% of Wave 4 data have been collected.

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Brief Summary of Findings

Wave 1 (N=904), IDA v. non-IDA members:

IDA participants had better or higher levels of education, employment, homeownership, business ownership, non-IDA savings, reported health, and social supports than non-IDA participants.*

However, IDA participants reported significantly higher levels of economic strain than non-IDA participants.*

* Only statistically significant differences reported

* Shobe, Christy-McMullin, Murphy-Erby, Jordan, Hamilton & Givens, 2010

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Brief Summary of Findings

Wave 1- controlling for demographics, human capital and income, do financial assets predict better levels well-being?

For general health, including financial assets in the regression increased adjusted R2 from 10.5% to 11.5% (p = .007).*

For economic strain, adding financial assets increased R2 significantly from 10.5% to 11.7% (p = .004).*

*Shobe, Christy-McMullin, Hamilton, Murphy-Erby, Denny & Givens (in progress)

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Brief Summary of Findings

Wave 2 (N=483)- examined IDA participants, IDA exiters & non-IDA participants.

57% of IDA & 44% of non-IDA members responded.

IDA members report better or higher levels of education, income, business ownership, non-IDA savings accounts and general health.

However, IDA members experienced higher levels of economic strain than non-IDA members.

* Only statistically significant differences reported

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Brief Summary of Findings

Wave 2 (n=483)- examining IDA members, IDA exiters & non-IDA members.

IDA exiters report twice the rate of feeling depressed as IDA or non-IDA participants. African Americans have highest rate of exiting IDA program. IDA exiters report 4 times more physical abuse than IDA participants and twice that of non-IDA participants.

* Only statistically significant differences reported

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Brief Summary of Findings

Wave 2 - examining IDA members, IDA exiters & non-IDA members

2/3 exiters left IDA program because not able to deposit money as required by program rules.

IDA members have higher levels of self-efficacy than non-IDA participants.

35% IDA participants purchased asset at Wave 2; 97% retained that asset.

* Only statistically significant differences reported

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Brief Summary of Findings

One Year Later: Wave 1 and 2 Comparisons: Controlling for Wave 1, demographics, human capital and income, do financial assets predict better levels of well-being for IDA participants?

Levels of self-efficacy decreased. Economic strain increased. IPV (physical abuse) decreased at Wave 2. Savings account balance positively related to self-efficacy and economic strain.

* Only statistically significant differences reported14

References

Shobe, M.A., Christy-McMullin, K., Hamilton, L., Murphy-Erby, Y., Denny, G & Givens, A. (in progress). Personal and Social Well-Being: What Are Financial Asset Contributions?

Shobe, M.A., Christy-McMullin, K., Murphy-Erby, Y., Jordan, S., Hamilton, L., & Givens, A. “Relationships between Household Assets and Individual Well-Being: Preliminary Findings from 904 Low-Income Participants in Arkansas and New Mexico,” Paper presentation, International Conference for Academic Disciplines, Orlando, Florida, March 2010.

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