Comparing the mental health effects of different social assistance programmes in Hong Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study compares the mental health effects of different social assistance programmes. We proposed a theoretical framework to explain how social assistance programmes may affect recipients’ mental health through positive resource effect and negative stigma effect. We examined the mental health of people participating in one of three social assistance programmes in Hong Kong: Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA), Social Security Allowance (SSA) and education subsidies. We analysed two waves of data from the Hong Kong Panel Survey for Poverty Alleviation (2015, 2017). SSA and education subsidies had no impact on recipients’ mental health. SSA targets vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities and imposes minimal (or no) means tests. Education subsidies target families with school-age children and impose moderate means tests. The programme that exerted positive mental health effects on recipients was CSSA, the public assistance scheme that serves as the last resort for those who cannot financially support themselves. The positive relationship was largely driven by old-age recipients who were viewed as ‘deserving poor,’ and thus experienced less stigma. Our findings demonstrated that social assistance programmes can enhance the mental health of their beneficiaries, particularly when positive mental health effects associated with economic security override negative stigma effects.