Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants

Research demonstrates an association between poverty and health. Populations in poverty suffer from poor mental and physical health, and thus, poor health-related quality of life. Research also indicates people living in the lower socio-economic categories experience higher levels of stress that are...

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Main Author: Chelsey Franz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: New Prairie Press 2016-09-01
Series:Journal of Financial Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:http://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1099&context=jft
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author Chelsey Franz
author_facet Chelsey Franz
author_sort Chelsey Franz
collection DOAJ
description Research demonstrates an association between poverty and health. Populations in poverty suffer from poor mental and physical health, and thus, poor health-related quality of life. Research also indicates people living in the lower socio-economic categories experience higher levels of stress that are associated with these health declines. Family Scholar House, a local community intervention designed to alleviate poverty and improve socio-economic status by providing college education and support to single parents, combats these health outcomes by addressing the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Quantitative analysis indicates an improvement in mental health among Family Scholar House participants: 0-12 month participants reported significantly more mentally unhealthy days than a control group; however, this difference is no longer significant at the end of participant’s time in the program. Qualitative analysis suggests this improvement may be due to stress reduction related to increased economic stability and financial security gained through an intentional implementation of a financial empowerment curriculum within the Family Scholar House program. Implementation of financial empowerment into community programs designed to alleviate poverty may improve mental health and thus health-related quality of life.
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spelling doaj.art-a3e7891a693b47109ce79eafe3fb320b2022-12-22T00:04:59ZengNew Prairie PressJournal of Financial Therapy1944-97712016-09-017110.4148/1944-9771.1099Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House ParticipantsChelsey Franz 0Bellarmine UniversityResearch demonstrates an association between poverty and health. Populations in poverty suffer from poor mental and physical health, and thus, poor health-related quality of life. Research also indicates people living in the lower socio-economic categories experience higher levels of stress that are associated with these health declines. Family Scholar House, a local community intervention designed to alleviate poverty and improve socio-economic status by providing college education and support to single parents, combats these health outcomes by addressing the five social determinants of health (economic stability, education, social and community context, health care, and neighborhood and built environment). Quantitative analysis indicates an improvement in mental health among Family Scholar House participants: 0-12 month participants reported significantly more mentally unhealthy days than a control group; however, this difference is no longer significant at the end of participant’s time in the program. Qualitative analysis suggests this improvement may be due to stress reduction related to increased economic stability and financial security gained through an intentional implementation of a financial empowerment curriculum within the Family Scholar House program. Implementation of financial empowerment into community programs designed to alleviate poverty may improve mental health and thus health-related quality of life.http://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1099&context=jftQuality of lifefinancial empowermentmental healthpovertycommunity support
spellingShingle Chelsey Franz
Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
Journal of Financial Therapy
Quality of life
financial empowerment
mental health
poverty
community support
title Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
title_full Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
title_fullStr Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
title_full_unstemmed Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
title_short Financial Empowerment and Health Related Quality of Life in Family Scholar House Participants
title_sort financial empowerment and health related quality of life in family scholar house participants
topic Quality of life
financial empowerment
mental health
poverty
community support
url http://newprairiepress.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1099&context=jft
work_keys_str_mv AT chelseyfranz financialempowermentandhealthrelatedqualityoflifeinfamilyscholarhouseparticipants