Association of Perceived Self and Public Stigma of Undergraduate Students on Perceived Financial Help-Seeking Behavior
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Date
2019-05
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The Ohio State University
Abstract
Despite evidence of undergraduate students feeling stressed about their personal finances, many do not seek help to reduce their stress. This study examines factors that influence the decision to not seek help by examining association between perceived financial help-seeking behavior of Ohio State University undergraduate students and measures of perceived self and public stigma. Participants were asked to complete a 40-question survey; scales validated in previous stigma research were adapted for use in the context of financial help-seeking behavior. Self-stigma was measured using the Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale and questions from the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Help scale. Public stigma was measured using questions from the Perceived Devaluation Discrimination scale. Financial stress was measured using questions from the Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness. Chi-Square analysis and logistic regression were used to analyze the survey results. Our analysis presents statistically significant evidence that the presence of self and public stigma, gender, major, and tracking monthly spending influence a student’s unwillingness to seek financial help. Implications exist for university and workplace financial wellness programs, secondary-level and university-level curriculum administrators, and education policy officials in structuring outreach strategies for financial help programs.
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Keywords
stigma, personal finance, financial help-seeking, college students