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State Policy Contexts and Inequality in Family Well-Being

Saturday, November 7, 8:30 to 10:00am, Property: Boston Marriott Copley Place, Floor: 4th Floor, Room: Salon H

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

How do differences in state policy environments shape family well-being in the United States? This panel brings together interdisciplinary research examining how variation in state policies influences family outcomes from birth through parenthood, including infant health, maternal employment, and parental mental and physical health. Aligned with APPAM’s theme, “Fifty States, Fifty Systems,” the panel demonstrates how policy contexts structure inequality in family life. These questions are especially salient as states vary widely in investments in income support and early childhood programs, with direct implications for health and economic inequality.

The first paper, “The Association between Pregnancy-Specific TANF Policies and Perinatal Health” by Emily C. Dore, Rita Hamad, Susan Mumford, Kelli Komro, and Melvin D. Livingston, examines how pregnancy-specific TANF policies shape perinatal health outcomes. Using PRAMS data (2000–2022; N=229,846) and a novel index of policy generosity, the study finds that more generous policies are associated with improved birth outcomes among individuals most likely to be eligible for TANF, including reductions in preterm birth and low birthweight and increases in birthweight. These results highlight the importance of policy design during pregnancy for reducing early-life health inequalities, with potential long-term consequences for population health.

The second paper, by Kazuma Wells, evaluates New York City’s “Pre-K for All” initiative and its effects on maternal labor supply. Using American Community Survey data and a combination of difference-in-differences and synthetic control approaches, the study finds that access to universal pre-K increases labor force participation among mothers with a youngest child age four by approximately 4.2 percentage points, with similar gains in employment. Effects are largest among middle-income, married, and college-educated mothers. These findings highlight how early childhood policy can expand or constrain maternal employment opportunities when children are young, with implications for family economic stability.

The third paper, by Jessica Su, Kelly Musick, and Hyo Joo Lee, examines how variation in state safety net generosity shapes parental well-being, measured as physical and mental health. Merging Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (2011–2022; N=947,582) with state-level measures of safety net generosity, the authors estimate logistic regression models with state and year fixed effects. A $1,000 increase in simulated annual benefits is associated with a 7–8% reduction in the odds of fair or poor health among low-income mothers, with smaller and less consistent effects for fathers. The findings underscore how state institutional contexts shape gendered inequalities in parental well-being.

Together, these papers demonstrate that income support policies and early childhood education programs shape family well-being and contribute to social inequality among parents and children. The panel features a mix of disciplines (Sociology, Public Health, Public Policy, Economics) and career stages (predoctoral, postdoctoral, mid-career, and senior level faculty), fostering interdisciplinary exchange. Tara Watson (Brookings Institution) will serve as discussant, synthesizing insights and drawing out implications for policy design and future research.

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