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Review
. 2024 Sep 2;14(9):770.
doi: 10.3390/bs14090770.

Implications of Cash Transfer Programs for Mental Health Promotion among Families Facing Significant Stressors: Using Ecological Systems Theory to Explain Successes of Conditional and Unconditional Programs

Tali L Lesser  1 , Maya Matalon  1 , Caroline S Clauss-Ehlers  1
Affiliations
Review

Implications of Cash Transfer Programs for Mental Health Promotion among Families Facing Significant Stressors: Using Ecological Systems Theory to Explain Successes of Conditional and Unconditional Programs

Tali L Lesser et al. Behav Sci (Basel). .

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to apply Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to explore the literature on how Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) programs might support positive mental health outcomes. The paper begins with transnational considerations of stress, such as poverty and COVID-19, and their impact on mental health. Bronfenbrenner's theory is applied to better understand the mechanisms by which CCT and UCT programs can potentially lead to positive outcomes for children and families who face such stressors. The implications of cash transfer programs are subsequently discussed in terms of how they might promote positive mental health outcomes among families globally. This theoretical application paper concludes with a call for transnational research to explore connections between cash transfer programs and mental health outcomes for children/adolescents and their parents/caregivers.

Keywords: COVID-19; cash transfer programs; family resilience; mental health; socioecological systems theory.

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Conflict of interest statement

The second author’s family member works at a cash transfer program. However, employment began after the article was conceptualized, and the manuscript was almost fully developed.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Implications of cash transfers on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological framework and child development and well-being.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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