Economic dependency and role strain : a study regarding the effects of being in receipt of public assistance upon the instrumental role performance and expectations of husbands, by short-term and long-term municipal welfare families

Abstract

This study investigates the effects of being in receipt of public assistance upon the instrumental role performance and expectations of the husbands of short and long-term municipal welfare families. It is an individual thesis written as one half of a joint undertaking by two students in the class of 1968 of the Maritime School of Social Work. Questionnaires administered to husbands of 20 short-term and 20 long-term municipal welfare families randomly selected from the files of the City of Halifax Welfare Department were the source of data. Material relevant to the study was then extracted and statistical tests of significance (chi square) carried out. No significant difference was found between short-term and long-term welfare recipients. To permit more thorough examination, as well as some speculation upon the soundness of this finding, theory and methodology were reviewed. Finally, recommendations were offered which might assist in future studies in the area.