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American Young Adults’ Debt and Psychological Distress

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  • Qun Zhang

    (University of Kentucky)

  • Hyungsoo Kim

    (University of Kentucky)

Abstract

This study explored the impact of student loan and credit card debt on young people’s psychological distress. Targeting American young adults ages 18–28, we examined the impacts of student loan and credit card debt on psychological distress and estimated their relative magnitude using five biannual waves from the Transition into Adulthood Study. Fixed-effects models investigated whether changes in debts led to changes in psychological distress. Increases of $1000 in student loan and credit card debt resulted in 6% and 4% higher odds of distress, respectively. Comparison showed credit card debt inflicted twice as much stress. Implications on young adults’ debt reduction and distress alleviation are addressed.

Suggested Citation

  • Qun Zhang & Hyungsoo Kim, 2019. "American Young Adults’ Debt and Psychological Distress," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 22-35, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:40:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10834-018-9605-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-018-9605-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Suzanne Bartholomae & Jonathan J. Fox, 2021. "A Decade Review of Research on College Student Financial Behavior and Well-Being," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 42(1), pages 154-177, July.
    4. Jeffrey Anvari-Clark & Theda Rose, 2023. "Financial Behavioral Health and Investment Risk Willingness: Implications for the Racial Wealth Gap," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-29, May.
    5. Naukhaiz Chaudhry & Waheed Akhter & David Roubaud, 2024. "Financial literacy, personality traits and financial wellbeing: A preliminary evidence," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 44(1), pages 190-210.
    6. Jing Jian Xiao & Nilton Porto & Irene McIvor Mason, 2020. "Financial capability of student loan holders who are college students, graduates, or dropouts," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(4), pages 1383-1401, December.
    7. Soomin Ryu & Lu Fan, 2023. "The Relationship Between Financial Worries and Psychological Distress Among U.S. Adults," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 16-33, March.
    8. Kasey J. Eickmeyer & Wendy D. Manning & Monica A. Longmore & Peggy C. Giordano, 2023. "Exploring the Married-Cohabiting Income Pooling Gap Among Young Adults," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 44(4), pages 990-1006, December.

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