Social and environmental predictors of maternal depression in current and recent welfare recipients

Depression is highly prevalent in welfare recipients, and is associated wit h failure to move from welfare to work. This paper examines the relationshi p between social and environmental factors in a large, community-based samp le of mothers who currently or recently received welfare benefits. Specific and modifiable risk factors related to poverty, gender, and race were foun d to predict major depression beyond traditional risk factors. Research and practice implications are discussed.