Impacts of Cash Transfer and “Cash Plus” Programs on Self- Perceived Stress in Africa: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania

Citation

Maara, John; Cirillo, Cristina; Angeles, Gustavo; Prencipe, Leah; deMilliano, Marlous; Lima, Sarah M.; & Palermo, Tia M. (2023). Impacts of Cash Transfer and “Cash Plus” Programs on Self- Perceived Stress in Africa: Evidence from Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania. SSM Population Health, 22, 101403. PMCID: PMC10165453

Abstract

Poverty and poor mental health are closely linked. Cash transfers have significantly expanded globally. Given their objectives around poverty reduction and improving food security, a major chronic stressor in Africa, cash transfers may affect mental health outcomes. We examine impacts of three large-scale government cash transfer or cash plus programs in Ghana, Malawi, and Tanzania on self-perceived stress using an innovative, newly adapted measure for rural African settings. Linear regression models were used to estimate treatment impacts. We find that cash transfers reduced self-perceived stress in Malawi, but programs in Ghana and Tanzania had no impacts on self-perceived stress. These mixed findings, combined with recent reviews on cash transfers and mental health, suggest that cash transfers may play a role in improving mental health. However, cash alone may not be sufficient to overcome many challenges related to poverty, and complementary programming may also be needed to improve mental health.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101403

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2023

Journal Title

SSM Population Health

Author(s)

Maara, John
Cirillo, Cristina
Angeles, Gustavo
Prencipe, Leah
deMilliano, Marlous
Lima, Sarah M.
Palermo, Tia M.

Article Type

Regular

PMCID

PMC10165453

Data Set/Study

Malawi’s Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP)

Continent/Country

Ghana
Malawi
Tanzania

ORCiD

Angeles - 0000-0003-4598-152X