Mental health in women experiencing intimate partner violence as the efficiency goal of social welfare functions

In this article, we propose that psychological goal functions, such as mental health, as well as income are important elements of social welfare. We examine the relationship between income, depression, social welfare (food stamps and Medicaid) and intimate partner violence, using a person-orientation in a sample from the United States. Data from four time points of a longitudinal study of intimate partner violence are analysed. Clusters of women are derived based on whether or not they received or did not receive food stamps and Medicaid at each of the four time periods. These clusters differ on income and intimate partner violence as well as the trajectory of depression. However, a series of linear models suggests that only intimate partner violence (not income and social welfare variables) predict the development and level of depression over time. The effects of the social welfare variables we examined seem to be domain specific and do not influence the mental health of women receiving these services.