HomePsychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journalvol. 16 no. 1 (2023)

Financial Stress and Help-Seeking Behavior of Public School Secondary Teachers: Bases for a Financial Management Counseling Plan

Kimverlee Paje | Alex Palmes

Discipline: Psychology

 

Abstract:

A person’s financial management skills are reflected through one’s capacity to manage his/her finances. If finances are mismanaged, financial stress may occur, and help-seeking behavior is manifested.Thus, this study aimed to find out the financial stress and help-seeking behavior of teachers as bases for a financial management counselling plan. The study utilized descriptive correlation type of research and a validated survey questionnaire was used to gather data. There were 60 public school teachers who served as respondents and answered the survey questionnaire. Frequency, mean and Pearson R correlation were the statistical tools employed to analyze the findings. Results revealed that the financial stressed experienced by the teachers is at mild to moderate level; while their help-seeking behavior is manifested almost all the time. Financial stress significantly differs when respondents are grouped in terms of family size. Financial goals and Income sources as financial stress indicators have significant relationship with help-seeking behavior. In conclusion, the teachers exhibit mild level of financial stress and tend to resort to helpseeking behavior to deal with the stressful situation. It is therefore recommended that financial management counselling plan be included in the school learning action cell tofurther help teachers cope with their financial stress.



References:

  1. Afonso, A., Baxa, J., & Slavík, M. (2018). Fiscal developments and financial stress: a threshold VAR analysis. Empirical Economics, 54(2), 395-423. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00181-016-1210-5
  2. Alvarado, P. A. L. (2021). Factors Associated with Financial Stressors, Financial Stress, and Financial Behaviors (Doctoral dissertation, Utah State University). https://www.proquest.com/openview/db1df1edcf611c2ad83453e6ed7749a9/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
  3. Archuleta, K. L., Britt, S. L., Tonn, T. J., & Grable, J. E. (2011). Financial satisfaction and financial stressors in marital satisfaction. Psychological Reports, 108(2), 563- 576. https://doi.org/10.2466/07.21.PR0.108.2.563-576
  4. Aselton, P. (2012). Sources of stress and coping in American college students who have been diagnosed with depression. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing25(3), 119-123.doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6171.2012.00341.x
  5. Baqutayan, S. M. S. (2015). Stress and Coping Mechanisms: A Historical Overview. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 6(2): 2039-2117. Doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n2s1p479
  6. Ben-Zur, H. (2009). Coping styles and affect. Int. J. Stress Manage. 16, 87–101. doi: 10.1037/a0015731
  7. Carroll, L. (2013). Problem-focused coping. Encyclopedia of behavioral medicine, 1540-1541.; Herres, J. (2015). Adolescent coping profiles differentiate reports of depression and anxiety symptoms. Journal of affective disorders, 186, 312-319.
  8. Casingal, C., & Ancho, I. (2021). Financial Literacy Challenges: The Case of Filipino Public-School Teachers. Jurnal Aplikasi Manajemen19(4). https://jurnaljam.ub.ac.id/index.php/jam/article/view/2214
  9. Dixon, T. (2022). Emotion-focused vs. Problem-focused Coping Strategies. https://www.themantic-education.com/ibpsych/2022/03/14/emotion-focused-vs-problem-focused-coping-strategies/
  10. Falconier, M. K., & Epstein, N. B. (2011). Couples experiencing financial strain: What we know and what we can do. Family Relations, 60(3), 303-317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2011.00650.x
  11. Ferrer, J. C. (2017). Caught in a Debt Trap? An analysis of the financial well-being of teachers in the Philippines. The Normal Lights11(2). https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jerick-Ferrer/publication/321996577_Caught_in_a_Debt_Trap_An_Analysis_of_the_Financial_Well-being_of_Teachers_in_the_Philippines/links/5a3cad5c458515f7ea53a708/Caught-in-a-Debt-Trap-An-Analysis-of-the-Financial-Well-being-of-Teachers-in-the-Philippines.pdf
  12. Folkman, S. (2008). The case for positive emotions in the stress process. Anxiety, stress, and coping21(1), 3-14.  https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800701740457
  13. Galdas, P. M., Cheater, F., & Marshall, P. (2005). Men and health helpā€seeking behaviour: literature review. Journal of advanced nursing, 49(6), 616-623.
  14. Glenn, C. E., & Heckman, S. J. (2020). Financial Help-Seeking Behaviors of Young Adults. Journal of Financial Therapy11(1), 3.. https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1212
  15. Grable, J. E., & Joo, S. H. (1999). Financial help-seeking behavior: Theory and implications. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning10(1), 14. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.506.9877&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  16. Falahati, L., Paim, L., Ismail, M., Haron, S. A., & Masud, J. (2011). Assessment of university students' financial management skills and educational needs. African Journal of Business Management, 5(15), 6085.
  17. Hardie, J., & Lucas, A. (2010). Economic factors and relationship quality among young couples: Comparing cohabitation and marriage. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(5), 1141-1154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00755.x
  18. Heckman, S., Lim, H., & Montalto, C. (2014). Factors related to financial stress among college students. Journal of Financial Therapy, 5(1), 18-39.. http://dx.doi.org/10.4148/1944-9771.1063
  19. Howse, K., Ebrahim, S., & Gooberman-Hill, R. (2004). Help-avoidance: why older people do not always seek help. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 14(1), 63-70.
  20. Institute of Heartmath. (2014). Easing financial stress. Retrieved from http://www.heartmath.org/free-services/solutions-for-stress/solutions-easing-financialstress.html.
  21. Jones, N., Greenberg, N., Phillips, A., Simms, A., & Wessely, S. (2019). Mental health, help-seeking behaviour and social support in the UK armed forces by gender. Psychiatry, 82(3), 256-271.
  22. Joo, S., & Grable, J. E. (2001). Factors associated with seeking and using professional retirement-planning help. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 30(1), 37–63. 
  23. Kempson, Elaine, Andrea Finney & Christian Poppe. (2017). “Financial Well-Being: A Conceptual Model and Preliminary Analysis”. Final Edition: Project Note, No.3. Oslo, Norway: Consumption Research Norway.
  24. Laubmeier, K. K., Zakowski, S. G., & Bair, J. P. (2004). The role of spirituality in the psychological adjustment to cancer: A test of the transactional model of stress and coping. International journal of behavioral medicine11(1), 48-55.
  25. Leandro, P. G., & Castillo, M. D. (2010). Coping with stress and its relationship with personality dimensions, anxiety, and depression. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences5, 1562-1573.
  26. Lim, H., Heckman, S., Montalto, C. P., & Letkiewicz, J. (2014). Financial stress, self-efficacy, and financial help-seeking behavior of college students. Journal of Financial Counseling and Planning, 25(2), 148-160.
  27. Loibl, C., & Hira, T. (2011). Know your subject: A gendered perspective on investor information search. Journal of Behavioral Finance, 12, 117–130. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427560.2011.600841
  28. Moreno, O., & Cardemil, E. (2013). Religiosity and mental health services: An exploratory study of help seeking among Latinos. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 1(1), 53.
  29. Plaza, R. & Jamito, K. (2021). Financial Conditions and Challenges among Public School Teachers: Its Implication to their Personal and Professional Lives. The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 9(4). https://www.proquest.com/openview/d8598a1a676c3678945345ae562e4364/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750
  30. Rahnama, M., Shahdadi, H., Bagheri, S., Moghadam, M. P., and Absalan, A. (2017). The relationship between anxiety and coping strategies in family caregivers of patients with trauma. J. Clinic. Diagn. Res. 11, IC06–IC09. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2017/25951.9673
  31. Rickwood, D., Deane, F. P., Wilson, C. J., & Ciarrochi, J. (2005). Young people’s help-seeking for mental health problems. Australian e-journal for the Advancement of Mental health, 4(3), 218-251.
  32. Rosenbaum, K. A. (2016). Radiography Students: Factors Contributing to their Stress and Methods of Coping. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3111/
  33. Santacroce, S. J., Killela, M. K., Kerr, G., Leckey, J. A., & Kneipp, S. M. (2020). Fathers' psychological responses to pediatric cancer–induced financial distress. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 67(6), e28281.
  34. Smith, S. & Hamon, R. (2017). Exploring family theories (4th ed., pp. 110-127). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
  35. Stangor, C. (2011). Research methods for the behavioural sciences (4th ed.). Mountain View, CA: Cengage.
  36. Völlink, T., Bolman, C. A. W., Eppingbroek, A., & Dehue, F. (2013). Emotion-focused coping worsens depressive feelings and health complaints in cyberbullied children. Journal of Criminology2013. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/416976.
  37. Zamble, E. & Gekoski, W. L., (1994). Coping. In Ramachandron, V.S. (Ed.), Encyclopedia o f Human Behaviour (Vol.3). New York: Academic Press.