We study the rapidly growing literature on the causal effects of financial education programs in a meta-analysis of 76 randomized experiments with a total sample size of over 160,000 individuals. Many of these experiments are published in top economics and finance journals. The evidence shows that financial education programs have, on average, positive causal treatment effects on financial knowledge and downstream financial behaviors. Treatment effects are economically meaningful in size, similar to those realized by educational interventions in other domains, and robust to accounting for publication bias in the literature. We also discuss the cost-effectiveness of financial education interventions.
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Showing library results for: September 2023
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1 - 12 of 121 Financial education affects financial knowledge and downstream behaviors
Financial education affects financial knowledge and downstream behaviors
APA Citation:
Kaiser, T., Lusardi, A., Menkhoff, L., & Urban, C. (2022). Financial education affects financial knowledge and downstream behaviors. Journal of Financial Economics, 145(2a), 255-272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.09.022
Focus:
Other
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Kaiser, Tim; Lusardi, Annamaria; Menkhoff, Lukas; Urban, Carly
2022
2 Grief process and support systems for military widows
Grief process and support systems for military widows
APA Citation:
McCullough, A. J., Likcani, A., & Hartenstein, J. L. (2023). Grief process and support systems for military widows. Journal of Feminist Family Therapy, 35(2), 155-178. https://doi.org/10.1080/08952833.2023.2210940
Focus:
Couples
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Guard
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
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Research & Summary
McCullough, Amanda J.; Likcani, Adriatik; Hartenstein, Jaimee L.
2023
This qualitative study aimed to give voice to young military widows through a phenomenological approach using a feminist lens. The researchers interviewed four young military widows and explored how they experienced the sudden traumatic loss of their spouse, the supports they utilized to cope with their loss, and their perception of the supports they used. There were four major themes that emerged through participant interviews: 1) notification process; 2) response to the notification of the sudden traumatic loss of their husband; 3) finding own path from grief to healing; and 4) support systems utilized during the healing process. Some supports were perceived as effective, and others were perceived as ineffective. All the military widows who participated in this study went through a very individualized healing process after the loss of their spouse and utilized a variety of supports to heal. Findings from this study have clinical implications unique to military widows and families regarding life transitions following the loss of their partner and factors that can impact their mental health.
3 Gifted and on the move: The impact of losing the gifted label for military connected students
Gifted and on the move: The impact of losing the gifted label for military connected students
APA Citation:
Hilt, R. (2023). Gifted and on the move: The impact of losing the gifted label for military connected students. Journal for the Education of the Gifted, 46(3), 236-258. https://doi.org/10.1177/01623532231180882
Focus:
Children
Programming
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Hilt, Robyn
2023
Society is becoming increasingly mobile, which impacts all facets of the educational experience, including gifted education. Military students attend several different schools in their educational careers, and inconsistent criteria and identification practices among states and school districts result in a fluid gifted label for many of these students. While some aspects of school mobility are highlighted in existing research, limited attention has been paid to school mobility within gifted education. This research works to address this gap by exploring the impact of losing the gifted label on children of military members, whose relocations frequently require mobility across state and district boundaries, utilizing a unique framework, Foucault’s technologies of self. Research findings explore student perspectives on the impact of their own effort or hard work on their ability to retain the gifted label and serve as a launching point from which to explore the issue of school mobility in gifted education.
4 Mental health of Canadian children growing up in military families: The child perspective
Mental health of Canadian children growing up in military families: The child perspective
APA Citation:
Williams, A., Cramm, H., Khalid-Khan, S., Reddy, P., Groll, D., Rühland, L., & Hill, S. (2024). Mental health of Canadian children growing up in military families: The child perspective. Armed Forces & Society, 50(2), 362-382. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095327X221128837
Focus:
Children
Programming
Mental health
Branch of Service:
International Military
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Williams, Ashley; Cramm, Heidi; Khalid-Khan, Sarosh; Reddy, Pappu; Groll, Dianne; Rühland, Lucia; Hill, Shannon
2024
A recent scoping review indicated military-connected children face stressors that may increase mental health issues. However, the majority of the included literature was American. To examine the experiences of Canadian military-connected children, we conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of Canadian military-connected youth using a qualitative description approach. We conducted a content analysis on interview data, supported by qualitative data analysis software (MAXQDA), with coding done by two researchers who met regularly to discuss coding agreement. Thirteen children in military families participated and described the mental health impact of frequent mobility, parental absence, and risk of parental injury. The experiences of our participants were consistent with the results of an earlier scoping review on this topic. Our results suggest improving military cultural competence among health care providers and enhancing parental support may positively impact child well-being. More research is needed to understand resilience and vulnerability among Canadian military-connected children.
Exploring the importance of predisposing, enabling, and need factors for promoting Veteran engagement in mental health therapy for post-traumatic stress: A multiple methods study
APA Citation:
Shepherd-Banigan, M., Shapiro, A., Stechuchak, K. M., Sheahan, K. L., Ackland, P. E., Smith, V. A., …Van Houtven, C. H. (2023). Exploring the importance of predisposing, enabling, and need factors for promoting veteran engagement in mental health therapy for post-traumatic stress: A multiple methods study. BMC Psychiatry, 23, Article 372. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04840-7
Focus:
Mental health
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Shepherd-Banigan, Megan; Shapiro, Abigail; Stechuchak, Karen M.; Sheahan, Kate L.; Ackland, Princess E.; Smith, Valerie A.; Bokhour, Barbara G.; Glynn, Shirley M.; Calhoun, Patrick S.; Edelman, David; Weidenbacher, Hollis J.; Eldridge, Madeleine R.; Van Houtven, Courtney H.
2023
This study explored Veteran and family member perspectives on factors that drive post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy engagement within constructs of the Andersen model of behavioral health service utilization. Despite efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase mental health care access, the proportion of Veterans with PTSD who engage in PTSD therapy remains low. Support for therapy from family members and friends could improve Veteran therapy use.
A qualitative study of military connected parents’ perceptions on establishing and maintaining child behavioral health services
APA Citation:
Benson, J. L., Phillips, S., Perkins-Parks, S., & Crockett, J. (2023). A qualitative study of military connected parents’ perceptions on establishing and maintaining child behavioral health services. Military Behavioral Health. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2023.2221474
Focus:
Parents
Children
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Veteran
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Benson, Jaime L.; Phillips, Sharon; Perkins-Parks, Susan; Crockett, Jennifer
2023
Few studies have examined U.S. military parents’ perspectives in establishing, maintaining, and reestablishing child behavioral health services within the context of military life. This qualitative study focused on the experiences of military-connected parents raising children who were receiving non-psychiatric outpatient behavioral health services for a range of behavioral or emotional challenges. The purposes of the qualitative study were to understand parents’ perspectives on the unique challenges military families face while seeking treatment and to understand facilitators or barriers to treatment. Twenty-two parents across the branches of the U.S. military participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Primary themes identified were difficulties reestablishing social and healthcare support networks when moving. When accessing behavioral health services, stigma, difficulty obtaining referrals, and family logistics were noted barriers. Facilitators included parental advocacy on behalf of their child and primary care providers providing quick referrals to specialized behavioral health services.
Increasing maternity leave and decreasing attrition rates of U.S. active duty women in the prenatal and immediate postpartum period
APA Citation:
Herrick, M. S. R., & Chai, W. (2023). Increasing maternity leave and decreasing attrition rates of U.S. active duty women in the prenatal and immediate postpartum period. Military Medicine, Article usad146. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad146
Focus:
Parents
Physical health
Branch of Service:
Air Force
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Herrick, Minette S. R.; Chai, Weiwen
2023
The USA currently does not have a national parental leave policy. In 2016, the Secretary of Defense increased the allotted maternity leave for active duty U.S. military members from 6 to 12 weeks. The purpose of this study was to understand the potential impact of this change on attrition rates of active duty women in the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines from their initial prenatal visit through the first year postpartum.All active duty women who had a confirmed pregnancy in the electronic health record from 2011 to 2019 were included for consideration in the study. A total of 67,281 women met the inclusion criteria. These women were followed from their initial documented prenatal visit for 21 months (9 months gestation and 12 months postpartum) for removal from the Defense Eligibility and Enrollment Reporting System signaling attrition from service presumably related to pregnancy or childbirth. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between maternity leave policy and attrition adjusting for covariates.Overall, women who were allotted 6 weeks of maternity leave were associated with higher attrition relative to women provided 12 weeks of maternity leave (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.31-1.42; P < .0001), representing a 22% decrease in attrition rates of women given 12 weeks vs. 6 weeks of leave. This impact of attrition rate was the greatest among members who were of lower rank (6 weeks vs. 12 weeks of leave: junior enlisted (E1-E3), 29.2% vs. 22.0%, P < .0001 and non-commissioned officer (E4-E6), 24.3% vs. 19.4%, P < .0001) and who served in the Army (28.0% vs. 21.2%, P < .0001) and Navy (20.0% and 14.9%, P < .0001).Family-friendly health policy appears to have the intended outcome of retaining talent in the military workforce. The impact of health policy on this population can provide a glimpse into the influence of similar policies should they be implemented nationwide.
Impact of built, social, and economic environments on adolescent obesity and related health behaviors
APA Citation:
Prados, M. J., Nicosia, N., & Datar, A. (2023). Impact of built, social, and economic environments on adolescent obesity and related health behaviors. Obesity, 31(4), 1085–1094. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23682
Focus:
Children
Youth
Physical health
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Prados, María J.; Nicosia, Nancy; Datar, Ashlesha
2023
Objective This study aimed to estimate the effects of the built, social, and economic environments on adolescent obesity and related behaviors. Methods Exploiting quasi-exogenous variation in military families' geographic location, this study estimated intent-to-treat models of the association between the assigned installation's county environments and adolescents' (mean age 13.5 years) self-reported and model-corrected BMI, overweight or obesity status, and self-reported diet and exercise. Three indices for the built, social, and economic environments characterized county-level environments (higher value implies more advantageous environments) based on 19 indicators. Multivariate linear and logistic models were estimated on the full sample (N = 1111) and on subsamples with greater exposure based on time (n = 682) and off-installation residence (n = 604). Results Exposure to more advantageous built environments for more than 2 years was associated with lower probabilities of obesity (−0.18; 95% CI: −0.34 to −0.026) and overweight or obesity (−0.34; 95% CI: −0.56 to −0.12) and was associated with lower BMI z scores (−0.76; 95% CI: −1.45 to −0.02). Results for adolescents living off-installation were similar. More advantageous built environments were also associated with lower consumption of unhealthy foods, but not with physical activity. Social and economic environments were not associated with any outcomes. Conclusions The built environment, but not social and economic environments, was a strong predictor of adolescents' BMI, overweight or obesity status, and eating behaviors.
Geographical access to specialized behavioral health treatment programs for U.S. active duty service members and military families from military installations
APA Citation:
Cantor, J. H., & Tong, P. K. (2023). Geographical access to specialized behavioral health treatment programs for U.S. active duty service members and military families from military installations. Preventive Medicine Reports, 34, Article 102267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102267
Focus:
Substance use
Programming
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Cantor, Jonathan H.; Tong, Patricia K.
2023
Active duty service members and their families have unique behavioral health care service needs. The purpose of this study is to determine geographical access to specialized behavioral health programs tailored to active duty U.S. service members and military families from military installations. This study generated network distance measures between active duty military installations and licensed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment facilities and mental health treatment facilities for 2015-2018 using data from national surveys administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and coordinates for active duty military installations from the Defense Installation Spatial Data Infrastructure Program. Using regression analysis, we calculated the share of installations that are at-risk of being remote from behavioral healthcare services. Separately, we calculated the share of treatment facilities accepting military insurance that offer specialized programs for active duty service members and/or military families within a 30-minute drive to an installation. Three out of 10 installations were at-risk of being remote from a behavioral health treatment facility. About 25 percent of behavioral health treatment facilities accepting military insurance within a 30-minute drive to an installation offered a specialized treatment program for active duty military or military families. Lack of a specialized treatment programs could suggest facilities may not be equipped to manage stressors unique to being in the military, and as a consequence, could adversely impact the health and well-being of this population. Further research is necessary to understand what specialized treatment programs for military populations entail.
10 Mental health stigma in active duty service members receiving mental health services
Mental health stigma in active duty service members receiving mental health services
APA Citation:
Zumwalde, J. K., Hawkins, B. L., & Young, K. M. (2023). Mental health stigma in active duty service members receiving mental health services. Military Medicine, usad159. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad159
Focus:
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Zumwalde, Jennifer K.; Hawkins, Brent L.; Young, Kathleen M.
2023
Mental health treatment is a service for military service members who have experienced psychological injury or trauma. Unfortunately, the stigma associated with treatment can prevent many service members from seeking and receiving treatment designed to help them recover. Previous studies have examined the impacts of stigma among military personnel as well as civilians; however, stigma among service members currently receiving mental health treatment is unknown. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationships between stigma, demographic variables, and mental health symptoms in a sample of active duty service members receiving mental health services in a partial hospitalization program.This cross-sectional, correlational study collected data from participants in the Psychiatric Continuity Services clinic at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which offers a four-week partial hospitalization program specializing in trauma recovery for active duty service members of all branches. The data from behavioral health assessments were gathered over a 6-month timespan, including the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale-24, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5). Stigma was measured using the Military Stigma Scale (MSS). The demographic data collected included military rank and ethnicity. Pearson correlations, t-tests, and linear regression were used to further explore the relationships between the MSS scores, demographic covariates, and behavioral health measures.In unadjusted linear regression models, non-white ethnicity and higher behavioral health assessment intake measures were associated with higher MSS scores. However, after adjusting for gender, military rank, race, and all mental health questionnaires, only Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 intake scores remained associated with MSS scores. No relationship between gender or military rank and average stigma score was observed in either the unadjusted or adjusted regression models. One-way analysis of variance detected a statistically significant difference between the white/Caucasian group and Asian/Pacific Islander group and a near significant difference between white/Caucasian group and black/African American group. The rates of stigma were higher in non-whites than whites.In this active duty military cohort, greater mental health stigma was associated with greater severity of mental health symptoms, especially post-traumatic stress symptoms. Some evidence found that ethnicity may also play a role in stigma score differences, particularly in the Asian/Pacific Islander group. Service providers could consider assessing mental health stigma to meet the clinical needs of their patients within the context of their willingness to obtain and adhere to treatment. Anti-stigma efforts to reduce stigma and its impacts on mental health are discussed. Additional research investigating the effect stigma has on treatment outcomes would help guide the relative importance of assessing stigma, in addition to other behavioral health realms.
Adolescent difficulties during parental deployment and anxiety: A focus on measurement and family processes
APA Citation:
Sherman, H., O’Neal, C. W., Tidwell, A., & Lucier-Greer, M. (2023). Adolescent difficulties during parental deployment and anxiety: A focus on measurement and family processes. Child & Family Social Work, 28(4), 1110-1120. https://doi.org/10.1111/cfs.13030
Focus:
Youth
Deployment
Parents
Mental health
Branch of Service:
Army
Military Affiliation:
Active Duty
Population:
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Sherman, Haley; O'Neal, Catherine Walker; Tidwell, Allison; Lucier-Greer, Mallory
2023
Approximately 60% of deployed service members leave behind immediate family members, and although military families tend to be adaptive and resilient, evidence suggests that deployments are challenging and difficulties can arise during transitions and family separation, especially for adolescents. Grounded in the family attachment network model and the ABC-X model of family stress, the current study utilized a sample of 204 military families with an active-duty father, civilian mother and adolescent and examined parents' perceptions of adolescents' difficulties during deployment in relation to all three family members' perceptions of the adolescents' mental health (i.e., anxiety symptoms) following deployment. First, analyses of measurement invariance indicated that service members and civilian parents were generally reporting on the same underlying construct of their adolescents' difficulties during parental deployment. Next, a structural equation model demonstrated considerable overlap in service member and civilian parent reports of their adolescents' difficulties during a parental deployment (r = 0.47). Finally, both parents' perceptions of adolescent difficulties during parental deployment were related to their own perceptions of the adolescent's current anxiety but not to the adolescents' reports of their own anxiety symptoms or to the other parent's report of the adolescents' anxiety symptoms. Findings provide support for utilizing these theories in combination, such that disruptions to the family system, and the attachment relationships within that system, in one stage of the deployment cycle, may imply that there are implications for individual-level functioning, namely, anxiety, in the next stage of the deployment cycle. Findings also underscore the importance of examining our measurement tools and collecting data from multiple family members to understand family processes.
Veteran experiences with suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and social support in safety planning within the Department of Veterans Affairs
APA Citation:
Matthieu, M. M., Morissette, S. B., Clafferty, S., Degutis, L., Oliver, C. M., Adkins, D. A., & DeBeer, B. B. (2023). Veteran experiences with suicide ideation, suicide attempt, and social support in safety planning within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Military Medicine, usad144. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usad144
Focus:
Veterans
Branch of Service:
Army
Navy
Marine Corps
Air Force
Multiple branches
Military Affiliation:
Veteran
Reserve
Guard
Population:
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)
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Research & Summary
Matthieu, Monica M.; Morissette, Sandra B.; Clafferty, Stephanie; Degutis, Linda; Oliver, Ciara M.; Adkins, David A.; DeBeer, Bryann B.
2023
This evaluation examined the role of safety plans, one of a host of clinical suicide prevention interventions available for veterans through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ national network of health care facilities managed by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).Interviews were conducted with veterans who had experienced suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt since enrolling in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system (N = 29). Topics included negative life experiences, triggers for suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt, ability to recall and utilize safety plans in crisis, safety plan elements found most and least useful, and improvements to safety planning.Eighteen (62.07%) of the veterans in the sample had attempted suicide. Drug use was by far the most triggering and overdose was the most negative life event to subsequent ideation or attempt. Although all at-risk veterans should have a safety plan, only 13 (44.38%) created a safety plan, whereas 15 (51.72%) could not recall ever creating a safety plan with their provider. Among those who did recall making a safety plan, identifying warning signs was the most remembered portion. The most useful safety plan elements were: recognizing warning signs, supportive people and distracting social settings, names and numbers of professionals, giving the veteran personal coping strategies, options for using the plan, and keeping their environment safe. For some veterans, safety plans were seen as insufficient, undesirable, not necessary, or lacking a guarantee. The suggested improvements included involving concerned significant others, specific actions to take in a crisis, and potential barriers and alternatives.Safety planning is a critical component in suicide prevention within the VHA. However, future research is needed to ensure safety plans are accessible, implemented, and useful to veterans when in crisis.
