The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences is proud to highlight the groundbreaking research of Assistant Professor Dr. Ian Hughes, who, alongside Dr. Andrea Bazzoli, recently published a study in the prestigious Journal of Business and Psychology that reshapes the understanding of financial stress.
Moving beyond traditional static measures, this research employed a dynamic, longitudinal design, tracking 324 U.S. workers over nine weeks to gather nearly 3,000 observations. Crucially, the study identifies the cognitive burden of debt management, showing that juggling more than four debt sources is a major predictor of strain. This research holds profound implications for organizational psychology and financial wellness interventions, suggesting that strategies focusing on small, strategic financial changes and reducing the complexity of obligations can be far more effective than previously assumed, thereby enhancing overall employee well-being and productivity.
The Texas A&M University College of Arts and Sciences has written a story about this research that you can read here!