Huston, Aletha C.2015-06-112018-01-222015-06-112018-01-222006-12http://hdl.handle.net/2152/30163textDepression is experienced at a higher degree in poor, female, and under-employed persons, as compared to the general population. A very large number of poor mothers have entered the workforce since the welfare reform of 1996. Poor mental health can prevent these women from achieving economic self-sufficiency because it can affect their ability to find and retain jobs. This study analyses the New Hope data of working and non-working poor in a Midwestern city to find if predictive relations exist between depressive symptoms and employment and income outcomes across a three-year span. A bi-directional predictive relation is found between depressive symptoms and household income. Also, a higher number of hours worked predicts declines in depressive symptoms, and a lower level of depressive symptoms predicts less AFDC receipt three years later.electronicengCopyright is held by the author. Presentation of this material on the Libraries' web site by University Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin was made possible under a limited license grant from the author who has retained all copyrights in the works.DepressionWorking mothersNon-working mothersMental healthPovertyThesisRestricted