MedPath

Building Financial Wellness Randomized Controlled Trial

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Mental Disorder
Interventions
Behavioral: Building Financial Wellness
Other: Services as Usual
Registration Number
NCT06489275
Lead Sponsor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Brief Summary

This study tests a psychosocial intervention to improve financial literacy and behaviors among adults with mental illnesses.

Detailed Description

This study is designed to test the effectiveness of a financial education curriculum, called Building Financial Wellness (BFW), in promoting financial literacy and reducing economic strain among adults with a mental health condition. The design involves random assignment of adults who are receiving mental health services to the intervention plus services as usual, versus services as usual alone. Assessments at baseline, two months post-baseline, and three months later collect data to test the null hypotheses of no difference between intervention and control conditions on outcome measures in the following domains using longitudinal mixed-effects random regression analyses: 1) financial well-being; 2) financial strain; 3) financial capability; 4) financial self-sufficiency; and 5) financial literacy.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
100
Inclusion Criteria
  • age 18+
  • access to computer, tablet or smart phone and an internet connection suitable for using Zoom
  • receiving services and/or supports for a diagnosed mental health disorder
  • ability to understand spoken English
  • interest in learning money management skills.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Cognitive impairment preventing informed consent
  • Unable to communicate in English

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionBuilding Financial WellnessSubjects receive a brief intervention consisting of 6 financial literacy classes designed to improve their financial literacy and financial wellness, followed by 3 one-on-one booster sessions to reinforce learning and provide support.
Services as UsualServices as UsualSubjects receive routine mental health care.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Financial Wellnessstudy entry (pre-intervention), immediate post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention]

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Financial Well-Being Scale consists of 10-items and assesses the extent to which a person's financial status and capability provide them with security and freedom of choice. Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "not at all" to "completely." Responses are coded 0-4 and summed for a total score potentially ranging from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating greater financial well-being.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in Financial Literacystudy entry (pre-intervention), immediate post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention]

The Financial Literacy Assessment tested knowledge of class content and included17 multiple-choice items with a 70% correct score considered passing in accordance with National Financial Educators Council guidelines.

Change in Financial Strainstudy entry (pre-intervention), immediate post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention]

The Financial Strain Questionnaire measures the level of distress associated with one's finances. This scale consists of 9-items and uses a 3-point Likert scale ranging from "no difficulty" to "great difficulty". Responses are coded 1-3 and summed for a total score potentially ranging from 9-27, with higher scores indicating greater financial strain.

Change in Financial Capabilitystudy entry (pre-intervention), immediate post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention]

The Financial Capability Scale measures one's knowledge, skills, and ability to manage financial resources effectively. It consists of 6 questions for which summed responses range between 0-8 points, with higher scores indicating greater feelings of financial capability.

Change in Financial Self-Sufficiencystudy entry (pre-intervention), immediate post-intervention, 3 months post-intervention]

The Financial Self-Sufficiency Scale assesses whether someone engages in sound money management activities such as comparison shopping, resisting impulse spending, living within their means, and balancing their bank account. This scale includes 6 items rated on a 4-point Likert scale ranging from "never true" to "always true" and summed for a total score potentially ranging from 6-24 points. Higher scores indicate greater financial self-sufficiency.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Psychiatry

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath