High Levels Of Financial Stress Research Articles

Impacts of COVID-19 on Biodiversity Conservation and Community Networks at Kibale National Park, Uganda

Conservation, like all aspects of society, was severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there have been projections and speculations about impacts on conservation plans and actions, data about the extent of these impacts are sparse. We contribute evidence from a research field site in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Our analysis shows that many of the fears concerning the negative conservation impacts of COVID-19 were borne out. Long-term research projects were disrupted, affecting employment opportunities in the park. These effects percolated into the local communities, which reported high levels of financial stress and other negative impacts, such as increased rates of teenage pregnancy. People who were permanently employed at the park reported lower levels of financial stress. Also particularly concerning was the increase in poaching in the park due to a lack of food security. This research highlights an important path toward resiliency for research stations in the face of global crises, but it requires changes in funding duration and scope from granting agencies and governments. Operating differently than ecotourism, research field stations provide unique opportunities to build resilient conservation instruments and the results of this research can help guide policies to make research field stations more resilient.

How much are patients willing to pay for spine surgery? An evaluation of attitudes toward out-of-pocket expenses and cost-reducing measures

Background ContextWith rising healthcare expenditures in the United States, patients and providers are searching to maintain quality while reducing costs. PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate patient willingness to pay for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF), degenerative lumbar spinal fusions (LF), and adult spine deformity (ASD) surgery. Study Design/SettingA survey was developed and distributed to anonymous respondents through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk). MethodsThe survey introduced 3 procedures: ACDF, LF, and ASD surgery. Respondents were asked sequentially if they would pay at each increasing price option. Respondents were then presented with various cost-saving methods and asked to select the options that made them most uncomfortable, even if those would save them out-of-pocket costs. ResultsIn total, 979 of 1,172 total responses (84%) were retained for analysis. The average age was 36.2 years and 44% of participants reported a household income of $50,000 to 100,000. A total of 63% used Medicare and 13% used Medicaid. A total of 40% stated they had high levels of financial stress. A total of 30.1% of participants were willing to undergo an ACDF, 30.3% were willing to undergo a LF, and 29.6% were willing to undergo ASD surgery for the cost of $3,000 (p=.98). Regression demonstrated that for ACDF surgery, a $100 increase in price resulted in a 2.1% decrease in willingness to pay. This is comparable to degenerative LF surgery (1.8% decrease), and ASD surgery (2%). When asked which cost-saving measures participants were least comfortable with for ACDF surgery, 60% stated “Use of the older generation implants/devices” (LF: 51%, ASD: 60%,), 61% stated “Having the surgery performed at a community hospital instead of at a major academic center” (LF: 49%, ASD: 56%), and 55% stated “Administration of anesthesia by a nurse anesthetist” (LF: 48.01%, ASD: 55%). Conversely, 36% of ACDF patients were uncomfortable with a “Video/telephone postoperative visit” to cut costs (LF: 51%, ASD: 39%). ConclusionSPatients are unwilling to contribute larger copays for adult spinal deformity correction than for ACDF and degenerative lumbar spine surgery, despite significantly higher procedural costs and case complexity/invasiveness. Patients were most uncomfortable forfeiting newer generation implants, receiving the operation at a community rather than an academic center, and receiving care by physician extenders. Conversely, patients were more willing to convert postoperative visits to telehealth and forgo neuromonitoring, indicating a potentially poor understanding of which cost-saving measures may be implemented without increasing the risk of complications.

Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping among people with uncontrolled diabetes in the U.S

Granular information on material deprivation including financial and economic well-being among people with diabetes can better inform policy, practice and interventions to support diabetes management. The purpose of this study was to describe in-depth the state of economic burden, financial stress, and coping among people with high A1c. Data came from the 2019–2021 baseline assessment in an ongoing U.S. trial that addresses social determinants of health among people with diabetes and high A1c who report at least one financial burden or cost-related non-adherence (CRN) (n = 600). Mean age of participants was 53 years. Planning behaviors were the most common financial well-being behavior, while savings was least frequently endorsed. Nearly a quarter of participants report spending more than $300 per month out-of-pocket to manage all of their health conditions. Participants reported spending the most out-of-pocket on medications (52%), special foods (40%), doctor’s visits (27%), and blood glucose supplies (22%). Along with health insurance, these were also the most cited as sources of financial stress and where assistance. Seventy-two percent reported high levels of financial stress. Maladaptive coping was evident through CRN, and less than half engaged in adaptive coping such as talking to a doctor about cost or using a resource to address their needs. Economic burden, financial stress, and cost-related coping are highly relevant constructs among people with diabetes and high A1cs. More evidence-generation is needed for diabetes self-management programs to address sources of financial stress, facilitate behaviors to enhance financial well-being, and address unmet social needs to alleviate economic burdens.

Race and COVID-19 among Social Workers in Health Settings: Physical, Mental Health, Personal Protective Equipment, and Financial Stressors.

Social work is an essential workforce integral to the United States' public health infrastructure and response to COVID-19. To understand stressors among frontline social workers during COVID-19, a cross-sectional study of U.S-based social workers (N = 1,407) in health settings was collected (in June through August 2020). Differences in outcome domains (health, mental health, personal protective equipment [PPE] access, financial stress) were examined by workers' demographics and setting. Ordinal logistic, multinomial, and linear regressions were conducted. Participants reported moderate or severe physical (57.3 percent) and mental (58.3 percent) health concerns; 39.3 percent expressed PPE access concerns. Social workers of color were more likely to report significantly higher levels of concern across all domains. Those identifying as Black, American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN), Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI), multiracial, or Hispanic/Latinx were over 50 percent more likely to experience either moderate or severe physical health concerns, 60 percent more likely to report severe mental health concerns, and over 30 percent more likely to report moderate PPE access concerns. The linear regression model was significantly associated with higher levels of financial stress for social workers of color. COVID-19 has exposed racial and social injustices that that hold true for social workers in health settings. Improved social systems are critical not just for those impacted by COVID-19, but also for the protection and sustainability of the current and future workforce responding to COVID-19.

An Application of Financial Resilience to Retirement Planning by Racial/Ethnic Status

A great majority of Americans are underfunded and/or financially stressed about their retirement future. Black and Hispanic individuals have a greater risk for inadequate retirement savings and experience higher levels of financial stress in their retirement age. This study investigates which factors increase financial resilience among Black and Hispanic individuals in terms of their retirement preparedness. Results from the 2018 wave of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 indicate that all four components of the financial resilience framework (economic resources, access to retirement resources, retirement knowledge, and social capital) are predictors of individuals’ subjective retirement preparedness. Results and implications are examined separately for Black, Hispanic and non-Black, non-Hispanic individuals to help financial professionals decrease the retirement planning racial and ethnic gap.

International students on the edge: The precarious impacts of financial stress

International students are an important global cohort of ‘noncitizens’ whose experiences are central concerns for urban sociologists and migration scholars. Drawing on survey fieldwork conducted among international students in the private rental sector in Sydney and Melbourne during 2019, this article provides new knowledge about the hardships experienced by international students who report financial stress. Using a modified scale developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we highlight the accelerating role of high levels of financial stress in producing disruptive events such as housing evictions and fears of homelessness, as well as reliance on inadequate housing like ‘hot-bedding’. Financial stress is significantly more likely for students from low-GNI (gross national income) countries and higher stress reduces wellbeing. Access to paid employment, however, does not ‘protect’ against higher financial stress. We conclude that higher education policymakers need tools and policies to prevent disruptive life events among international students related to financial stress, particularly those associated with housing.

Buffering effects of social security benefits for persons with psychiatric disability on caregivers' burden and quality of life.

Out-of-pocket mental health care expenditure has a catastrophic impact on the families living with severe mental illness, with high levels of burden and poor quality of life. The present study aims to understand the buffering effects of social security benefits for persons with psychiatric disability on caregivers' burden and quality of life. Two groups of caregivers of people with severe mental illnesses, those receiving disability benefits (n = 100) for the past 6 months and those who were not receiving any benefits (n = 72), were recruited from the out-patient follow-up services. Both the groups were assessed with the Burden Assessment Scale (BAS) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHO QoL-Bref). Those who were receiving the disability-related social benefits had reported better quality of life only in psychological and social domains. The maximum value of Pearson's correlation coefficient was observed between physical and psychological domains (r = 0.12; not significant), and the values did not change even after controlling for the social security status. The current study did not find full support for buffering effects of social security benefits on caregivers' quality of life. Thus, there is a need for a comprehensive plan for social security benefits, especially for persons with psychiatric disability, as caregivers are already experiencing high levels of financial stress.

The impact of disability on employment and financial security following the outbreak of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in the UK

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have a greater impact on people with disabilities than non-disabled people. Our aim was to compare the short-term impact of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown on the employment and financial security of working age adults with and without disabilities in the UK.MethodsSecondary analysis of data collected in Wave 9 and the special April, May and June COVID-19 monthly surveys of ‘Understanding Society’, the UK’s main annual household panel study.ResultsDuring the first 3 months of the introduction of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK, respondents with disability were more likely than their peers to be working reduced hours and experience higher levels of financial stress. These differences were attenuated, but not eliminated, when estimates were adjusted to take account of pre-lockdown financial status.ConclusionsWorking age adults with disability were particularly disadvantaged by the financial impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in the UK. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stated the need for a disability-inclusive COVID-19 government response. The results of our analysis suggest that these pleas have either not been heeded, or if measures have been implemented, they have so far been ineffectual in the UK.

Does poverty impact student academic outcomes and wellbeing in Australian universities? A systematic review

Preliminary evidence suggests that Australian university students have higher levels of financial stress and food insecurity relative to the general population. However, the impact of poverty on students’ university experiences is rarely considered. The current systematic review sought to investigate whether poverty is associated with poorer academic outcomes and wellbeing in Australian tertiary students. The search included a range of terms related to financial stress, food insecurity, homelessness, housing insecurity, attrition, academic achievement, satisfaction with life, general health, and psychological distress. Twenty-seven (65.9%) of the 41 studies revealed a negative relationship between poverty and wellbeing, and/or a negative relationship between poverty and university engagement within Australian university student samples. Overall, the review found that poverty within tertiary students is associated with negative impacts on academic performance and well-being. Universities, governments, and researchers are therefore urged to explicitly identify the issue of poverty within higher education to begin to address it appropriately.

Immigration stress among refugees resettled in the United States.

Immigration stress includes acculturation stress and the stress related to language barriers, discrimination, occupational challenges, and feelings of isolation from society and a sense of newness or loss. The purpose of this study was to examine immigration stress among refugees resettled in the United States. A self-administered or interviewer-administered survey was collected from individuals with a refugee background in Utah from summer through fall in 2017 (N = 190). Older age was associated with higher levels of financial stress and homesickness. Poorer levels of self-rated health and fewer somatic symptoms were related to higher levels of homesickness and language barriers. Higher educational attainment was associated with higher levels of financial stress. Refugees are a vulnerable population due to being displaced to a foreign country and having to quickly learn a new language and different culture. It is imperative to gain more knowledge on diverse refugee groups and ways in which they can maintain optimum quality of life through and after the resettlement process.

Testing a critical cultural wealth model of well-being among first-generation students.

The current study examined predictors of career choice and life satisfaction among a diverse sample of first-generation college students (N = 424). Grounded in the critical cultural wealth model (CCWM; Garriott, 2019), financial stress, sense of belonging, and work volition were found to directly predict life satisfaction and work volition was found to directly predict career choice satisfaction. Additionally, work volition and/or a sense of belonging were found to significantly mediate the relation of financial stress and experiences of discrimination to career choice and life satisfaction. Invariance testing revealed that the model fit equally well for students identifying as a racial/ethnic minority compared with White students, for freshman/sophomores compared with juniors/seniors, and for students who were part of a first-generation scholarship program versus those who were not. Overall, findings suggest that first-generation students' sense of career choice and life satisfaction is predicted primarily by feelings of work volition and belonging on campus, each of which may be negatively affected by experiencing higher levels of financial stress or discrimination on campus. Implications for research and practice are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

FINANCIAL HELP SEEKING BEHAVIOR PADA MAHASISWA DI SURABAYA

The purpose of this study is to identify the factors that influence financial help-seeking behavior among university students in Surabaya. The study was conducted by distributing questionnaires to undergraduate and graduate students in Surabaya. Data analysis was performed with logistic regression. Help seekers tend to have less financial education, negative financial behavior, higher financial risk tolerance, higher levels of financial stress, and low financial self-efficacy. The results of this study are expected to help the concerned parties to formulate various policies that can improve one's financial welfare, in this case, university students.

The role of financial strain in college students’ work hours, sleep, and mental health

Objective To examine poor sleep quality as a potential mediator between college students’ employment hours and depressive symptoms, and to examine if this mediation model might differ across students reporting different levels of financial strain. Participants: The sample was collected through a multi-site study during the Spring of 2019 and included 792 undergraduates (M = 20.1, SD = 1.9) in Upstate New York. Methods: Moderated mediation analyses based on cross-sectional self-report, online questionnaires. Results: Increased work hours predicted greater sleep disturbance, which, in turn, predicted more depressive symptoms. Compared to students in more comfortable financial situations, this mediation model only emerged for students reporting more financial strain and lower family socio-economic status. Conclusions: Student employment hours are a significant predictor of students’ mental well-being when considering their potential impact on their sleep. Furthermore, students reporting higher levels of financial stress are most at risk of being impacted by this process.

College Students' Reported Financial Stress and Its Relationship to Psychological Distress

This study examined how financial stress was related to psychological distress as measured by the Counseling Center Assessment of Psychological Symptoms–62 (Locke et al., 2011). Data were collected from students seeking psychological services at a large midwestern university. Results indicated that higher levels of financial stress are associated with greater family distress, academic distress, overall distress, and lower grade point average. Group differences are presented and discussed. Suggestions for addressing financial stress in counseling are provided.

Examining DACA Students’ Financial Experiences in College

This study aims to gain a greater understanding of the financial experiences of students with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status enrolled in college. The study uses a data set that includes 317 self-identified DACA college students enrolled in 65 two- and four-year institutions nationwide, one of the largest samples of DACA students available. Results suggest that DACA students have higher levels of financial stress than their non-DACA counterparts but report similar levels of optimism about their own financial futures.

Student Loan Debt and Financial Stress: Implications for Academic Performance

Student Loan Debt and Financial Stress: Implications for Academic Performance Amanda R. Baker (bio) and Catherine P. Montalto (bio) With the costs of college on the rise across the United States, many postsecondary educators are concerned about the potential effect of financial strain on student outcomes. Scholars have long hypothesized that students who are concerned about finances may demonstrate lower goal commitment, academic engagement, and persistence (Boatman & Long, 2016; Cabrera, Nora, & Castañeda, 1992; Nora, Barlow, & Crisp, 2006). High levels of student loan debt and financial stress have been associated with increases in students’ likelihood of dropping out, stopping out, or reducing their course loads (Dwyer, Hodson, & McCloud, 2013; Joo, Durband, & Grable, 2008; Robb, Moody, & Abdel-Ghany, 2012). Financial concerns have also been linked with extended time to degree (Letkiewicz et al., 2014), which can further escalate the costs of college. The causal mechanisms linking financial concerns to college outcomes are not fully understood. Researchers have suggested that financial strain may reduce students’ motivation to complete college (Cabrera et al., 1992; Nora et al., 2006) or deplete the cognitive resources students have available to allocate to academic concerns (Northern, O’Brien, & Goetz, 2010), yet few studies have specifically examined the associations between financial concerns and academic performance. Furthermore, researchers have not yet distinguished the effects of high levels of financial stress from more moderate levels of financial stress. These questions have significant implications for student affairs practitioners, who are tasked with ensuring that financial concerns do not negatively affect students’ academic success. Trends in student borrowing and financial stress vary between racial and ethnic groups and by gender, pointing to possible inequities in financial support for college. One study shows that Black bachelor’s degree recipients were more likely to have borrowed $30,000 or more in student loans, potentially reflecting lower access to other forms of financial support (Baum & Steele, 2010). Conversely, Latinx and Asian students may be more averse to taking out student loans, even when other sources of financial aid do not cover college costs (Goldrick-Rab & Kelchen, 2015). Some studies have shown that self-reported financial stress is higher among Students of Color, though this may be accounted for by the inadequacy of available financial resources (Archuleta, Dale, & Spann, 2013; Grable & Joo, 2006). Researchers have found that women report higher levels of financial stress than do men (Archuleta et al., 2013; Heckman, Lim, & Montalto, 2014) but that the amount of student debt associated with an increased risk of dropping out is lower for men than for women (Dwyer et al., 2013). Financial concerns include both objective factors, reflecting the actual availability and use of resources, and subjective factors, reflecting students’ perceptions of their financial stability (Nora et al., 2006). We examined how both objective and subjective indicators of financial [End Page 115] concerns were associated with academic performance. First, we examined whether expected student loan debt and subjective levels of financial stress were associated with academic performance after 1 year, controlling for prior grades and demographics. Then, we examined interaction effects to determine whether the academic implications of financial concerns differed on the basis of race/ethnicity or gender. METHOD Data Source An online survey was distributed to a random sample of 5,000 undergraduate students enrolled at a large Midwestern public university in Fall 2014. Two reminders were sent, and participation was incentivized with entry into a gift card drawing. Of the 666 students who responded, data were analyzed for 299 respondents who were still enrolled 1 year later and who provided complete information about their finances and demographics. Of those excluded, 168 had graduated, 15 had dropped out or stopped out, and 184 had missing data on one or more key variables. We did not find statistically significant differences in the race/ethnicity, gender, student loan debt amount, financial stress, or grades of students with and without missing data. The sample was demographically similar to the undergraduate population of the institution, although female students were overrepresented among survey participants. Most respondents (89.7%) were traditional-aged college students, and 60.5% were female. The sample was 72.4% White, 10.0% Asian, 7.6% Black, 1.3% Latinx, 7.3% multiracial/ethnic, and 1...

Financial Stress and Indigenous Australians

We examine the high levels of financial stress among Indigenous populations in Australia. We estimate separate models for the determinants of financial stress for Indigenous and non‐Indigenous households and show the importance of separately considering Indigenous disadvantage. We use these models to build equivalence scales for both groups. We find evidence consistent with financial stress being exacerbated by demand sharing (‘humbugging’). The evidence also suggests that financial stress is reduced by engagement in traditional hunting and gathering activities.

Financial Stress and Smoking within a Large Sample of Socially Disadvantaged Australians.

Financial stress is associated with fewer quit attempts and higher relapse rates. This study aimed to compare financial stress among smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers in a highly socioeconomically disadvantaged sample. The study also aimed to determine whether specific indicators of financial stress differ according to smoking status. Adult clients seeking welfare assistance from two Social and Community Service Organisation sites in New South Wales, Australia, were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey between March 2012 and December 2013. Responses to a financial stress scale, smoking status and demographics were collected. Linear and logistic regression modelling was used to examine associations between smoking status and financial stress. A total of 1463 participants completed the survey. Current smokers had significantly higher total financial stress scores than ex-smokers and non-smokers respectively. Current smokers also had higher odds of severe financial stress indicators, such as going without meals (Odds Ratio = 2.2 and 2.0), than both non-smokers and ex-smokers. Even among a highly socioeconomically disadvantaged sample with high levels of financial stress, smoking status further exacerbates experiences of deprivation. Given the relationship between financial stress, socioeconomic disadvantage and difficulty quitting, it is important to provide enhanced cessation support to smokers experiencing financial stress.

Reaching Successful Futures: Experiences of Participants in the Education and Training Vouchers Program

Youths who have been in foster care face many challenges in accessing and completing postsecondary education. The Chafee Education and Training Vouchers (ETV) program is a federally funded program that assists current and former foster youths in accessing postsecondary learning opportunities by providing scholarship money for their education. This study used an online survey to gather information from ETV program participants about their sources of emotional, academic, and financial support during both secondary and postsecondary education. Findings indicate that youths involved in the ETV program report relatively high levels of out-of-school time involvement during secondary school, multiple opportunities for meaningful connections with caring adults, and a strong sense of personal responsibility. They also report high levels of financial stress and challenges in accessing appropriate resources while in postsecondary educational settings. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for research and practice.

Abstract WP387: Predictors of Loneliness in African American Women with Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Social connections are a basic need of all humans. Loneliness is a perceived lack of both quantity and quality of social relationships. Prior research demonstrates that loneliness increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and poor health outcomes. Although African American (AA) women are at greater risk than non-Hispanic White (NHW) women for CVD, the influence of social disadvantages on loneliness in AA women at risk for CVD have not been examined. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare protective and risk factors posited to predict loneliness in AA women and NHW women at risk for CVD. Methods: A cross sectional sample of post-menopausal women (50 AA and 49 NHW) with at least two risk factors for CVD completed standardized measures of loneliness, depressive symptoms, financial stress, subjective social status, social support provisions, and resilience. Results: Compared to NHW, AA women reported greater loneliness (t=-2.09, p=.039), financial stress (t=-2.92, p=.004), and lower subjective social status (t=2.68, p=.009). In addition, AA women described less attachment (t=2.34, p=.028) and reliable alliance social support provisions (t=3.27, p=.002) than NHW women. Predictors of loneliness differed between AA and NHW women in that higher levels of depressive symptoms and financial stress and lower levels of resilience, subjective social status, and the social provision of guidance predicted loneliness in AA women in the overall model (r 2 =.91, p=.000). In NHW women, only depressive symptoms and social integration uniquely predicted loneliness (r 2 =.79, p=.000). Conclusions: AA women experienced higher levels of loneliness than NHW women. Although depressive symptoms were a strong predictor of loneliness in both groups, high levels of financial stress and low levels of social status, resilience, and social guidance were unique contributors of loneliness in AA women. Findings from this study may assist researchers in developing and testing tailored interventions to address the effects of social disadvantages on loneliness in vulnerable populations.