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Household Debt and Adult Depressive Symptoms in the United States

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  • Lawrence Berger
  • J. Michael Collins
  • Laura Cuesta

Abstract

This study used data from Waves 1 (1987–1989) and 2 (1992–1994) of the National Survey of Families and Households in the United States and a series of regression models, some of which included individual-specific fixed effects, to estimate associations of particular types and levels of debt with adult depressive symptoms. Results suggest that household debt is positively associated with greater depressive symptoms. However, this association appears to be driven by short-term (unsecured) debt; we found little evidence of associations with depressive symptoms for mid- or long-term debt. The link between short-term debt and depressive symptoms persisted with alternative estimation strategies, including defining debt in absolute and relative terms. Furthermore, this association was particularly concentrated among 51–64 year-old adults, those with a high school education or less, and those who were not stably married throughout the observation period. These findings suggest that short-term debt may have an adverse influence on psychological wellbeing, particularly for those who are less educated, approaching retirement age, or unmarried. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Lawrence Berger & J. Michael Collins & Laura Cuesta, 2016. "Household Debt and Adult Depressive Symptoms in the United States," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 42-57, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:37:y:2016:i:1:p:42-57
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-015-9443-6
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jing Jian Xiao & Kyoung Tae Kim, 2022. "The Able Worry More? Debt Delinquency, Financial Capability, and Financial Stress," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 138-152, March.
    2. Christopher R. Tamborini, 2021. "Family and Health over the Past Decade: Review of Selected Studies and Areas of Future Inquiry," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 62-69, July.
    3. Deng, Xin & Yu, Mingzhe, 2021. "Does the marginal child increase household debt? – Evidence from the new fertility policy in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    4. Nur Hafidzah Idris* & Melissa Faisal Wee & Shafinar Ismail & Khairunnisa Abd Samad, 2018. "Financial Knowledge, Debt Literacy and Over-Indebtedness," The Journal of Social Sciences Research, Academic Research Publishing Group, pages 22-29:3.
    5. Valerie Heintz-Martin & Claudia Recksiedler & Alexandra N. Langmeyer, 2022. "Household Debt, Maternal Well-Being, and Child Adjustment in Germany: Examining the Family Stress Model by Family Structure," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 338-353, June.
    6. Angela M. O’Rand & Jenifer Hamil-Luker, 2020. "Landfall After the Perfect Storm: Cohort Differences in the Relationship Between Debt and Risk of Heart Attack," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(6), pages 2199-2220, December.
    7. Bashir Ahmad Joo & Simtiha Ishaq Mir, 2024. "Evolution of the Household Debt Narrative: A PRISMA-compliant Systematic Literature Review," Paradigm, , vol. 28(1), pages 84-100, June.
    8. Maite Blázquez & Ana I. Moro Egido, 2020. "Financial insecurity and subjective well-being. Europe in crossnational perspective," ThE Papers 20/07, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    9. Liu, Jiankun & He, Xiaobin & Dong, Yinxi, 2024. "Household debt and children’s psychological well-being in China: The mediating role of parent–child relations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    10. Naijie Guan & Alessandra Guariglia & Patrick Moore & Fangzhou Xu & Hareth Al-Janabi, 2022. "Financial stress and depression in adults: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(2), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Cristina OTTAVIANI & Daniela VANDONE, 2016. "Is Impulsivity a Mediator of the Relationship between Financial Literacy and Debt Decisions?," Departmental Working Papers 2016-06, Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods at Università degli Studi di Milano.
    12. Lucia F. Dunn & Ida A. Mirzaie, 2023. "Gender Differences in Consumer Debt Stress: Impacts on Job Performance, Family Life and Health," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 550-567, September.
    13. Blázquez, Maite & Budría, Santiago & Moro-Egido, Ana I., 2020. "Over-indebtedness and age: The effects on individual health," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    14. Lawrence M. Berger & Jason N. Houle, 2019. "Rising Household Debt and Children’s Socioemotional Well-being Trajectories," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 56(4), pages 1273-1301, August.
    15. Muhammad S. Tahir & Abdullahi D. Ahmed, 2021. "Australians’ Financial Wellbeing and Household Debt: A Panel Analysis," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-14, October.
    16. Hiilamo, Aapo, 2020. "Debt matters? Mental wellbeing of older adults with household debt in England," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106507, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    17. Ana I. Moro Egido, 2021. "Social Comparisons; the behavioural component," ThE Papers 21/04, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
    18. Yaxin Ming & Chenxi Li & Jing (Elaine) Chen, 2021. "Acquisition mode and credit card overspending behavior: An empirical analysis of the credit card industry," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 232-253, March.
    19. Sarah R. Brauner-Otto & Claudia Geist, 2018. "Uncertainty, Doubts, and Delays: Economic Circumstances and Childbearing Expectations Among Emerging Adults," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 39(1), pages 88-102, March.

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