Do Personal Attitudes about Welfare Influence Food Stamp Participation?

This paper attempts to determine whether negative personal attitudes toward welfare may prevent eligible persons from applying for food stamps. Using the dataset from the 2002 National Survey of American families (NSAF) survey, a logistic regression model was run. The findings of this study indicate that negative attitudes towards welfare may prevent people from applying for food stamps. Food insecurity on the other hand, increases the likelihood of applying for food stamps. Demographic variables such as employment, education and marital status also influence the probability of applying for food stamps.