Ansiedade financeira e dinâmicas familiares

: um estudo com mães

Abstract

The objective of this study is to explore the relation between financial anxiety and sociodemographic characteristics in a sample of mothers and to examine mothers' perceptions regarding the impact of financial anxiety on family dynamics and children's behavior. To achieve this aim, a mixed methodology was used, combining a quantitative approach (Phase 1) and a qualitative approach (Phase 2). In the first phase of this study, a statistical analysis was conducted on the responses to a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Financial Anxiety Scale (FAS) of 561 mothers with children aged between 10 and 18, with the aim of exploring the relationship between levels of financial anxiety and sociodemographic variables. In the second phase of the study, interviews were conducted with two mothers who exhibited higher levels on the Financial Anxiety Scale in order to gain a deeper understanding of their subjective experiences. The results obtained indicate that mothers can experience financial anxiety regardless of family income. This anxiety can affect parenting and communication styles with children, with more evident emotional impacts. However, the exclusive impact cannot be attributed solely to financial anxiety, as objective economic difficulties are also present. In this study, it was possible to perceive that these factors are interconnected in a complex way, although it was not possible to fully comprehend the complexity of this interconnection. Finally, with an exploratory nature, this study offers relevant insights for the development of future studies focused on understanding the interplay between the objective and subjective components of the financial situation, and the impact of these on family dynamics and the behavior of children and youth.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2023
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Raquel Matos (Supervisor) & Luísa Ribeiro (Co-Supervisor)