To understand variations in the stress response, two separate research traditions have developed:... more To understand variations in the stress response, two separate research traditions have developed: one that focuses on appraisal and the other on stressors. Research on stressors informs our understanding of the social conditions that expose individuals to potentially stressful situations, whereas research on appraisal informs our understanding of why different people respond to stressors in different ways. The present study seeks to integrate findings from these two research traditions and extend our understanding of the stress process by investigating the possibility those variations in sources of stress trigger different appraisals. In addition, this study also attempts to untangle the separate effects of appraisal and stressor by examining each construct at a more granular level than has previously been undertaken. Finally, this study examines the relationships between stressors and appraisal to understand how they may, in combination, influence distress. The data for these analyses are merged from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) and the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). The MIDUS participants are a representative sample of 3032 adults aged 25 to 74 obtained through a random-digit dialing process. The NSDE participants are a subsample of 1031 participants from the MIDUS. The participants for the present study are the 534 men and women who participated in the NSDE who experienced at least one interpersonal tension during the 8-day telephone diary. Results from multilevel modeling analyses indicated that there was more within-person variability in appraisal of interpersonal tensions than between-person variability. Findings from this study also provide empirical support that stressors and appraisal are separate constructs with independent effects on distress. Further, there are multiple pathways through which dimensions of appraisal and attributes of the stressor in combination influence distress
This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Fina... more This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE). The authors would like to thank NEFE® for their dedication to research, education and outreach in promoting financial literacy.
The current paper aims to present a statistical technique \u2014 latent transition analysis (LTA)... more The current paper aims to present a statistical technique \u2014 latent transition analysis (LTA) \u2014 as a useful tool for measuring qualitative developmental change. The paper is divided into three sections. In the first section, we introduce readers to LTA by describing the three methodological components of the technique: (1) the use of a person-centered approach; (2) the use of latent categorical variables; and (3) the use of a longitudinal study design. In the second section, we describe the 5-step analysis procedure required to create an LTA model and the conditional inclusion of covariates and outcomes in the LTA model. In the third section, we apply the technique to the social developmental process of emerging adults using Mplus
BACKGROUND Emerging adulthood is a life stage with elevated risk for both mental disorders and fi... more BACKGROUND Emerging adulthood is a life stage with elevated risk for both mental disorders and financial distress. Although a positive link between financial stress and depressive symptoms has been identified, there is a lack of delineation on the temporal dynamics of this link spanning the entire stage of emerging adulthood (roughly ages 18 to 29). METHODS Using a statistical approach that partitions between-person from within-person variation and based on four waves of data from a college cohort (N = 2,098) throughout emerging adulthood, this study addresses this gap. RESULTS Latent growth curve model analyses indicate that the trajectory of financial stress throughout emerging adulthood followed an inverted "U" shape, whereas that of depressive symptoms displayed a linear, decreasing trend. The positive correlations of both intercepts and slopes between financial stress and depressive symptoms indicated a co-development pattern. Classical, cross-lagged panel model analyses (i.e., a model aggregating between-person and within-person variation) demonstrated a reciprocal positive association between financial stress and depressive symptoms across waves. Random intercept, cross-lagged panel model analyses (i.e., a model disaggregating between-person and within-person effects) indicated a unidirectional positive within-person effect from depressive symptoms to financial stress across waves, controlling for between-person effects. LIMITATIONS Shared-method and shared-informant variance may inflate the identified associations, and the correlational data precludes casual inferences. CONCLUSION Improving young adults' mental well-being, specifically intervening depressive symptoms, could be an avenue for reducing their financial stress. Future research is pressing to examine mechanisms via which depression symptoms manifest as financial stress during transition to adulthood.
Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Jun 23, 2023
Emerging adults face an increasingly complicated financial climate, which necessitates that they ... more Emerging adults face an increasingly complicated financial climate, which necessitates that they possess dynamic financial decision-making skills. With an increased understanding of emerging adults’ financial decision-making processes and what influences their financial decisions, parents, financial counselors, and other individuals can better prepare emerging adults to be financially independent. This qualitative study explored how emerging adults make financial decisions by asking questions about their habits and preferences as well as responding to two hypothetical, financial-related dilemma scenarios. Participants engaged in interactive learning sessions where they were able to share their responses in a group setting. Findings indicated that participants consulted media and their parents the most when they needed advice or additional information to make financial decisions. Based on this study’s findings, it is recommended that financial literacy programs involve emerging adults’ families and leverage the influence of media when teaching financial knowledge and skills.
to adulthood harder than before. Emerging adults, i.e., people aged 18-29 years , are indeed deal... more to adulthood harder than before. Emerging adults, i.e., people aged 18-29 years , are indeed dealing with the developmental task of moving from youth to adulthood, and its inherent social challenges: the completion of education, entry into the labour market, leaving the parental The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences at the individual (e.g., unemployment, health risk, postponed weddings, etc.), family (i.e., return to the parental home, worry for parents' health and job loss, etc.), and social (i.e., social distancing, uncertainty, etc.) levels have made the transition
Journal of family and economic issues, Jan 30, 2020
Guided by the Vulnerability-Adaption-Stress model (Karney and Bradbury 1995), we used data from 6... more Guided by the Vulnerability-Adaption-Stress model (Karney and Bradbury 1995), we used data from 635 college-educated young adults to examine associations between romantic attachment orientations (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and young adults' life outcomes (i.e., financial satisfaction, life satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction; Aim 1). We also conducted a mediating model to examine indirect associations from romantic attachment orientations to life outcomes via young adult's own financial behaviors and perceived partners' financial behavior (i.e., each young adult's perception of their partner's financial behaviors; Aim 2). For Aim 1, high attachment anxiety and/or high attachment avoidance was associated with low life satisfaction and low relationship satisfaction. For Aim 2, high attachment anxiety was associated with low financial satisfaction and low life satisfaction via young adults' own less responsible financial behaviors. Further for Aim 2, high attachment anxiety and high attachment avoidance were associated with low relationship satisfaction via perceived partners' less responsible financial behavior. Across these two aims, we found that romantic attachment orientations were associated with financial behaviors and, in turn, life outcomes. We suggest researchers and practitioners consider romantic attachment orientations when seeking to understand and improve financial behaviors and life outcomes among young adults. Keywords Financial behaviors • Indirect associations • Life outcomes • Romantic attachment orientations • Young adults Attachment orientations reflect internal working models of the self (i.e., whether individuals view themselves as valued and able to elicit others' support) and others (i.e., whether other people are trustworthy and helpful; Bowlby 1973). Researchers have developed attachment orientations, focusing on two dimensions: (a) attachment anxiety (i.e., models of self that are negative; models of others that are positive), which refers to a tendency to eschew self-reliance and seek to establish a close union and responsive relationship with others, and (b) attachment avoidance (i.e., models of self that are positive; models of others that are negative), which refers to a tendency to rely on oneself and feel discomfort and distrust when associating with others (Mikulincer and
This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Fina... more This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE). The authors would like to thank NEFE® for their dedication to research, education and outreach in promoting financial literacy.
Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Nov 1, 2021
Whereas problematic finances can undermine relationship satisfaction, a sense of shared financial... more Whereas problematic finances can undermine relationship satisfaction, a sense of shared financial values may bolster relationship satisfaction; thus, it is important to understand how to promote couples' shared financial values. In this study, we examined the association of individuals' perceptions regarding their own and their partners' positive financial behaviors on shared financial values. Using survey data from a young adult cohort of college graduates, participants of the Arizona Pathways to Life Success for University Students (APLUS) study, we found that participants' perceptions of their own positive financial behaviors, and their perceptions of the positive financial behaviors of their partners, were each associated with increased shared financial values. Results suggest that practitioners could help individuals recognize that improving their own financial behaviors and also appreciating their partner's positive financial behaviors contribute to couples' shared financial values.
Current global economic instability has exacerbated the challenges of contemporary emerging adult... more Current global economic instability has exacerbated the challenges of contemporary emerging adulthood and increased the urgency of examining financial instability as a life condition during this life stage. For this special issue, we assembled eight papers from different countries to examine how emerging adults are navigating financial instability. In the current introduction to the special issue, we identified the main themes that emerged from the collected studies: the role of family, emerging adults’ financial self-agency, financial disruptions and wellbeing, and the processes linking financial factors and positive development. Overall, these studies demonstrate that while the overall processes linking finances and development may be similar in different nations, the specificity of each context highlights the need to consider the important role of cultural norms and attitudes. We conclude this introduction, suggesting future research paths and implications for educators and practitioners that provide financial educators programs.
To understand variations in the stress response, two separate research traditions have developed:... more To understand variations in the stress response, two separate research traditions have developed: one that focuses on appraisal and the other on stressors. Research on stressors informs our understanding of the social conditions that expose individuals to potentially stressful situations, whereas research on appraisal informs our understanding of why different people respond to stressors in different ways. The present study seeks to integrate findings from these two research traditions and extend our understanding of the stress process by investigating the possibility those variations in sources of stress trigger different appraisals. In addition, this study also attempts to untangle the separate effects of appraisal and stressor by examining each construct at a more granular level than has previously been undertaken. Finally, this study examines the relationships between stressors and appraisal to understand how they may, in combination, influence distress. The data for these analyses are merged from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States (MIDUS) and the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE). The MIDUS participants are a representative sample of 3032 adults aged 25 to 74 obtained through a random-digit dialing process. The NSDE participants are a subsample of 1031 participants from the MIDUS. The participants for the present study are the 534 men and women who participated in the NSDE who experienced at least one interpersonal tension during the 8-day telephone diary. Results from multilevel modeling analyses indicated that there was more within-person variability in appraisal of interpersonal tensions than between-person variability. Findings from this study also provide empirical support that stressors and appraisal are separate constructs with independent effects on distress. Further, there are multiple pathways through which dimensions of appraisal and attributes of the stressor in combination influence distress
This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Fina... more This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE). The authors would like to thank NEFE® for their dedication to research, education and outreach in promoting financial literacy.
The current paper aims to present a statistical technique \u2014 latent transition analysis (LTA)... more The current paper aims to present a statistical technique \u2014 latent transition analysis (LTA) \u2014 as a useful tool for measuring qualitative developmental change. The paper is divided into three sections. In the first section, we introduce readers to LTA by describing the three methodological components of the technique: (1) the use of a person-centered approach; (2) the use of latent categorical variables; and (3) the use of a longitudinal study design. In the second section, we describe the 5-step analysis procedure required to create an LTA model and the conditional inclusion of covariates and outcomes in the LTA model. In the third section, we apply the technique to the social developmental process of emerging adults using Mplus
BACKGROUND Emerging adulthood is a life stage with elevated risk for both mental disorders and fi... more BACKGROUND Emerging adulthood is a life stage with elevated risk for both mental disorders and financial distress. Although a positive link between financial stress and depressive symptoms has been identified, there is a lack of delineation on the temporal dynamics of this link spanning the entire stage of emerging adulthood (roughly ages 18 to 29). METHODS Using a statistical approach that partitions between-person from within-person variation and based on four waves of data from a college cohort (N = 2,098) throughout emerging adulthood, this study addresses this gap. RESULTS Latent growth curve model analyses indicate that the trajectory of financial stress throughout emerging adulthood followed an inverted "U" shape, whereas that of depressive symptoms displayed a linear, decreasing trend. The positive correlations of both intercepts and slopes between financial stress and depressive symptoms indicated a co-development pattern. Classical, cross-lagged panel model analyses (i.e., a model aggregating between-person and within-person variation) demonstrated a reciprocal positive association between financial stress and depressive symptoms across waves. Random intercept, cross-lagged panel model analyses (i.e., a model disaggregating between-person and within-person effects) indicated a unidirectional positive within-person effect from depressive symptoms to financial stress across waves, controlling for between-person effects. LIMITATIONS Shared-method and shared-informant variance may inflate the identified associations, and the correlational data precludes casual inferences. CONCLUSION Improving young adults' mental well-being, specifically intervening depressive symptoms, could be an avenue for reducing their financial stress. Future research is pressing to examine mechanisms via which depression symptoms manifest as financial stress during transition to adulthood.
Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Jun 23, 2023
Emerging adults face an increasingly complicated financial climate, which necessitates that they ... more Emerging adults face an increasingly complicated financial climate, which necessitates that they possess dynamic financial decision-making skills. With an increased understanding of emerging adults’ financial decision-making processes and what influences their financial decisions, parents, financial counselors, and other individuals can better prepare emerging adults to be financially independent. This qualitative study explored how emerging adults make financial decisions by asking questions about their habits and preferences as well as responding to two hypothetical, financial-related dilemma scenarios. Participants engaged in interactive learning sessions where they were able to share their responses in a group setting. Findings indicated that participants consulted media and their parents the most when they needed advice or additional information to make financial decisions. Based on this study’s findings, it is recommended that financial literacy programs involve emerging adults’ families and leverage the influence of media when teaching financial knowledge and skills.
to adulthood harder than before. Emerging adults, i.e., people aged 18-29 years , are indeed deal... more to adulthood harder than before. Emerging adults, i.e., people aged 18-29 years , are indeed dealing with the developmental task of moving from youth to adulthood, and its inherent social challenges: the completion of education, entry into the labour market, leaving the parental The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences at the individual (e.g., unemployment, health risk, postponed weddings, etc.), family (i.e., return to the parental home, worry for parents' health and job loss, etc.), and social (i.e., social distancing, uncertainty, etc.) levels have made the transition
Journal of family and economic issues, Jan 30, 2020
Guided by the Vulnerability-Adaption-Stress model (Karney and Bradbury 1995), we used data from 6... more Guided by the Vulnerability-Adaption-Stress model (Karney and Bradbury 1995), we used data from 635 college-educated young adults to examine associations between romantic attachment orientations (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and young adults' life outcomes (i.e., financial satisfaction, life satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction; Aim 1). We also conducted a mediating model to examine indirect associations from romantic attachment orientations to life outcomes via young adult's own financial behaviors and perceived partners' financial behavior (i.e., each young adult's perception of their partner's financial behaviors; Aim 2). For Aim 1, high attachment anxiety and/or high attachment avoidance was associated with low life satisfaction and low relationship satisfaction. For Aim 2, high attachment anxiety was associated with low financial satisfaction and low life satisfaction via young adults' own less responsible financial behaviors. Further for Aim 2, high attachment anxiety and high attachment avoidance were associated with low relationship satisfaction via perceived partners' less responsible financial behavior. Across these two aims, we found that romantic attachment orientations were associated with financial behaviors and, in turn, life outcomes. We suggest researchers and practitioners consider romantic attachment orientations when seeking to understand and improve financial behaviors and life outcomes among young adults. Keywords Financial behaviors • Indirect associations • Life outcomes • Romantic attachment orientations • Young adults Attachment orientations reflect internal working models of the self (i.e., whether individuals view themselves as valued and able to elicit others' support) and others (i.e., whether other people are trustworthy and helpful; Bowlby 1973). Researchers have developed attachment orientations, focusing on two dimensions: (a) attachment anxiety (i.e., models of self that are negative; models of others that are positive), which refers to a tendency to eschew self-reliance and seek to establish a close union and responsive relationship with others, and (b) attachment avoidance (i.e., models of self that are positive; models of others that are negative), which refers to a tendency to rely on oneself and feel discomfort and distrust when associating with others (Mikulincer and
This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Fina... more This study has been made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE). The authors would like to thank NEFE® for their dedication to research, education and outreach in promoting financial literacy.
Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, Nov 1, 2021
Whereas problematic finances can undermine relationship satisfaction, a sense of shared financial... more Whereas problematic finances can undermine relationship satisfaction, a sense of shared financial values may bolster relationship satisfaction; thus, it is important to understand how to promote couples' shared financial values. In this study, we examined the association of individuals' perceptions regarding their own and their partners' positive financial behaviors on shared financial values. Using survey data from a young adult cohort of college graduates, participants of the Arizona Pathways to Life Success for University Students (APLUS) study, we found that participants' perceptions of their own positive financial behaviors, and their perceptions of the positive financial behaviors of their partners, were each associated with increased shared financial values. Results suggest that practitioners could help individuals recognize that improving their own financial behaviors and also appreciating their partner's positive financial behaviors contribute to couples' shared financial values.
Current global economic instability has exacerbated the challenges of contemporary emerging adult... more Current global economic instability has exacerbated the challenges of contemporary emerging adulthood and increased the urgency of examining financial instability as a life condition during this life stage. For this special issue, we assembled eight papers from different countries to examine how emerging adults are navigating financial instability. In the current introduction to the special issue, we identified the main themes that emerged from the collected studies: the role of family, emerging adults’ financial self-agency, financial disruptions and wellbeing, and the processes linking financial factors and positive development. Overall, these studies demonstrate that while the overall processes linking finances and development may be similar in different nations, the specificity of each context highlights the need to consider the important role of cultural norms and attitudes. We conclude this introduction, suggesting future research paths and implications for educators and practitioners that provide financial educators programs.
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Papers by Joyce Serido