The long-term effects of cash transfer programmes on young adults' mental health: a quasi-experimental study of Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa.

ABSTRACT: Poverty is associated with poorer mental health in early adulthood. Cash transfers (CTs) have been shown to improve child health and education outcomes, but it is unclear whether these effects may translate into better mental health outcomes as children reach young adulthood. Using a quasi-experimental approach that exploits variation across countries in the timing of national CT programme introduction, we examine whether longer exposure to CTs during childhood (0-17 years) reduces depressive symptoms in early adulthood (18-30 years). Based on harmonized data from Colombia, Mexico, and South Africa (N = 14 431), we applied logistic regression models with country and birth-cohort fixed effects to estimate the impact of cumulative years of CT exposure on mental health, educational attainment

SUBMITTER: Zimmerman A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11800976 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature