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Effects of a trauma-informed curriculum on depression, self-efficacy, economic security, and substance use among TANF participants: Evidence from the Building Health and Wealth Network Phase II
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Effects of a trauma-informed curriculum on depression, self-efficacy, economic security, and substance use among TANF participants: Evidence from the Building Health and Wealth Network Phase II

Jerome Dugan, Layla G. Booshehri, Pam Phojanakong, Falguni Patel, Emily Brown, Sandra Bloom and Mariana Chilton
Social science & medicine (1982), v 258, 113136
Aug 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113136
PMID: 32585543
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113136View
Published, Version of Record (VoR)CC BY V4.0,  Open

Abstract

Depression Economic security Substance use TANF Trauma-informed
Integrating trauma-informed peer support curriculum into the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program can help address caregiver trauma symptoms (e.g., depression, low self-efficacy, economic hardship) caused by exposures to violence and adversity that negatively impact one's ability to maintain employment and improve earnings; yet, it is unclear if trauma-informed peer support interventions designed for TANF impact co-occurring disorders, such as depression and substance use, that inhibit resiliency in the labor market. The aim of this study is to examine whether integrating trauma-informed peer support curriculum into the TANF program is associated with reductions in co-occurring depression and substance use, and improvements in self-efficacy and economic security. From October 2015 to May 2018, 369 caregivers were enrolled in the 16-week Building Wealth and Health Network Phase II single-group cohort study. Participants responded to questions regarding their socio-demographic characteristics, mental health, economic security, and use of drugs and alcohol at baseline and four three-month follow-up surveys. Associations between the trauma-informed peer support curriculum and health outcomes were assessed using maximum likelihood estimation. Using class attendance records, participants were separated into a low-exposure group (<four classes; n = 156) and a high-exposure group (≥four classes; n = 213). Maximum likelihood analysis revealed that the high-exposure group reported a lower Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score (−1.245; p = 0.027) and lower economic Hardship Index score (−0.499; p < 0.001) than the low-exposure group. The analysis also revealed that for the high-exposure group, attending an additional class was associated with declines in CES-D score (−1.024; p = 0.016) and 12-point Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score (−0.557; p = 0.012). These findings suggest that trauma-informed peer support programming improves economic security and self-efficacy and reduces the co-occurrence of depressive symptoms and alcohol use. •Examined the effectiveness of a trauma-informed peer intervention designed for TANF.•The high-exposure group reported lower depression and higher economic security.•Increased class attendance associated with declines in depression and alcohol use.

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21 Record Views
12 citations in Web of Science
12 citations in Scopus

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#5 Gender Equality
#3 Good Health and Well-Being

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Social Sciences, Biomedical
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