[영문]Numerous studies have reemerged examining social psychologicalvariables as predictors of individual differences in the human experience.Still, current research focusing on the effects of self-beliefson welfare use and exit is limited. This study examines the effectsof social psychological variables on the likelihood of welfare use andfive-year outcomes of women using data from the 1979 through2000 waves of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY).Binary logistic regression estimates suggest that social psychologicalcharacteristics are initially related to welfare use, but do notremain once control variables are introduced. While social psychologicalpredictors do not appear to have strong or robust direct effectsin multivariate models, traditional human capital variablesof public assistance outcomes past initial entry are significant.