Financial Education for Bankrupt Families

 

Thorne, D. & Porter, K. (2007) Financial education for bankrupt families: Attitudes and needs. Journal of Consumer Education 24, 15-27.

Brief Description: The study examines bankrupt families’ attitudes toward financial education courses and the expenses with which they are most likely to struggle after bankruptcy. Results reveal that a majority of respondents believed that a money or debt management course would have helped them avoid bankruptcy. However, respondents with college degrees, who were white, or who were older (especially 65 …

Encouraging Savings by Low-Income Individuals

 

Fry, T., Mihajilo, S., Russell, R. & Brooks, R. (2008). The factors influencing saving in a matched savings program: goals, knowledge of payment instruments and other behavior. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 29(2), 234-250.

Brief Description: This study investigates the factors that influence the saving behavior of low-income participants in a matched savings program. The factors found to play a positive role in encouraging saving were goal-setting and the financial literacy education component offered in the program. The …

Impact of Social and Financial Resources on Hardship

 

Parks-Yancy, R., DiTomaso, N. & Post, C. (2007). The mitigating effects of social and financial capital resources on hardships. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(3), 429-448.

Brief Description: Social and financial capital resources include knowing people who can help one obtain a job, offer cash or help defray expenses when layoffs or other hardships occur. These resources differ by gender and class (income/occupational status). This study found that middle class individuals had ample access to social and financial …

Food Insecurity of Low-income Families

Nnakwe Nweze. E. (March 2008). Dietary patterns and prevalence of food insecurity among low-income families participating in community food assistance programs in a Midwest town. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 36 (3), 229-242. http://fcs.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/36/3/229.

 

Brief Description: The study investigated the dietary patterns and prevalence of food insecurity in low-income families participating in community food assistance programs. A total of 236 heads of households were selected as a convenience sample and interviewed using standard research instruments. Households with children …

The gendered meanings of assets for divorce

 

Dew, J. (2009). The gendered meanings of assets for divorce. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 30(1), 20-31.

Brief Description: Although scholars have known for decades that financial assets relate to a lower likelihood of divorce, no one has explained why. This study finds that wives’ characteristics completely drove the relationship between assets and divorce. Assets helped wives be more satisfied with their marriage and, thus, less likely to divorce. Assets also decreased the attractiveness of divorce, because wives …

Linking financial strain to marital instability: examining the roles of emotional distress and marital interation

 

Gudmunson, C., Beutler, I., Israelsen, C., McCoy, K. & Hill, J. (2007) Linking financial strain to marital instability: examining the roles of emotional distress and marital interaction.Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 28(3), 357-376.

Brief Description: This study investigates whether individual moods or couple interactions are stronger links between financial strain and thoughts of ending a marriage. It finds that both are important. Feelings of depression and hostility are experienced individually as a result of financial strain. In …

Changes in Debt and Change in Marital Satisfaction

 

Dew, J. (2007). The relationship between debt change and marital satisfaction change in recently married couples. Family Relations, 57 (1), 60-71.

Brief Description: Recently married couples report debt as one of their top concerns. This study assesses how changes in consumer debt (e.g., credit card debt) relate to changes in marital satisfaction. Consumer debt assumption is associated with recently married couples’ cutting back on spending time together and arguing about money more frequently. These changes predict declines in marital satisfaction. …

Couples’ money management behavior and relationship satisfaction

 

Britt, S., Grable, J.E., Nelson, B.S., & White, M. (2008). The influence of perceived spending behaviors on relationship satisfaction. Financial Counseling and Planning, 19(1), 31-43.

Brief Description: This study explored relationships between couples’ personal and joint spending habits and relationship satisfaction. Results indicated that partner spending behaviors, but not one’s own or joint spending behaviors, influence relationship satisfaction. Other factors associated with relationship satisfaction were high self-esteem (positive relationship) and financial stressors such as medical bills (negative relationship).

Implications:

Risk tolerance and investments of business owners

 

Wong, C. & Hanna, S.D. (2007). The risk tolerance and stock ownership of business owning households. Financial Counseling and Planning, 18(2), 3-18.

Brief Description: This study examined the risk tolerance and stock ownership of three types of households: non-business owners, those that own and manage a business, and those that own but do not manage a business. Non-manager business owners were more likely than others to take risks and hold stocks, and manager owners were significantly less likely to …

Women’s investment decision-making

 

Loibl, C., Lee, J., Mentel-Gaeta, E., Fox. J. (2007). Women’s high-consequence decision making: A nonstatic and complex choice process. Financial Counseling and Planning, 18(2), 35-47.

Brief Description: Using qualitative data from a focus group of female investors, this study examined choice processes used when making mutual fund decisions in employer retirement plans. It found that investment decision-making is a compromise between the goals of increased accuracy and a desire to limit cognitive effort. Observations included a lack of investment information …