Financial scarcity, marked by insufficient resources, challenges individuals and households to meet basic needs and negatively impacts emotions, thoughts, behavior, well-being, and health. This... Show moreFinancial scarcity, marked by insufficient resources, challenges individuals and households to meet basic needs and negatively impacts emotions, thoughts, behavior, well-being, and health. This leads to financial stress, characterized by a perceived lack of resources, control, and increased worry. Social welfare systems can alleviate financial stress by providing necessary resources to low-income households, but widespread non-take-up of social welfare limits its effectiveness.This dissertation aims to deepen the understanding of the dynamic relationship between financial stress and mental well-being, identify economic predictors of financial stress, and explore the determinants of non-take-up of social welfare as a tool for alleviating financial stress. The first part examines the relationship between financial stress and mental health, highlighting the dynamic interaction between these factors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adopting an integrative approach, the study also investigates the influence of various economic conditions—income, debts, savings, income volatility, and employment—on financial stress.The second part focuses on the non-take-up of social welfare. It addresses gaps in the literature through a systematic review, qualitative interviews, empirical testing of an integrated model for take-up of benefits, and an experimental design. Findings reveal the complexity of factors influencing non-take-up, including administrative burden, fear of reclaims, and perceived eligibility. The impact of reclaims on non-take-up is examined, highlighting the specific deterrent effect of reclaims on welfare participation.The dissertation concludes with recommendations for future research and policy design, emphasizing the need for simpler, more accessible social welfare systems to reduce financial stress and improve overall well-being among financially vulnerable households. Show less
Simonse, O.; Dijk, W. van; Dillen, L.F. van; Dijk, E. van 2024
The subjective experience of financial stress has profound implications for well-being, health, cognitive performance, and decision-making. In a sample of Dutch households (N = 1114), we studied... Show moreThe subjective experience of financial stress has profound implications for well-being, health, cognitive performance, and decision-making. In a sample of Dutch households (N = 1114), we studied the association of five economic factors - income, saving, debts, income volatility, and employment - with a four-factor measure of financial stress: 1) an appraisal of insufficient financial resources, 2) an appraisal of lack of control over one's financial situation, 3) financial worries and rumination, and 4) a short-term focus. This enabled us to examine the economic factors' relative contributions to predicting5 financial stress. We found that the combination of economic factors predicted financial stress better than income alone. Particularly, buffer savings had a large contribution to predicting financial stress. The number of debts had a smaller relative contribution to predicting financial stress, whereas we did not find support for debt amount as a predictor of financial stress. Employment was negatively associated with financial stress, but only for households with the lowest incomes. We found no support for income volatility predicting financial stress. These results imply that research and policy on financial stress should have a broader scope than income alone and should take a more integrative approach to households' financial situation, considering savings, number of debts, and unemployment. Show less
Simonse, O.; Dillen, L.F. van; Dijk, W. van; Dijk, E. van 2024
Sociale voorzieningen zoals toeslagen bieden inkomenszekerheid aan financieel kwetsbarehuishoudens. Toch vraagt lang niet iedereen deze voorzieningen aan. Om te achterhalen hoe ditkomt, namen we... Show moreSociale voorzieningen zoals toeslagen bieden inkomenszekerheid aan financieel kwetsbarehuishoudens. Toch vraagt lang niet iedereen deze voorzieningen aan. Om te achterhalen hoe ditkomt, namen we een vragenlijst af bij meer dan 700 Nederlanders die recht hebben op zorgtoeslagen gingen we de straat op om mensen te interviewen die moeten rondkomen van weinig geld. Show less
Groos, J. van; Hilgevoord, V.W.; Simonse, O.; Mors, E. ter; Venhoeven, L; Molenaar, M. 2023
We empirically test an integral model for healthcare and child support benefits take-up using a probabilitysample of the Dutch population (N = 905). To examine how different psychological factors,... Show moreWe empirically test an integral model for healthcare and child support benefits take-up using a probabilitysample of the Dutch population (N = 905). To examine how different psychological factors, in conjunction,explain take-up, we apply model averaging with Akaike’s Information Criterion (AICC). For both types ofbenefits, people’s perceptions of eligibility best explain take-up. For healthcare benefits, take-up also relatesto perceptions of need. Exploratory analyses suggest that for healthcare benefits but not for child supportbenefits, executive functions, self-efficacy, fear of reclaims, financial stress, and welfare stigma explainperceived eligibility. We find no support for knowledge, support, and administrative burden as explanatoryfactors in take-up. We discuss the results in relation to the Capability Opportunity Motivation Behaviour(COM-B) model for developing behavioural change interventions. Show less
Egelmeers, T.; Westdorp, I.; Hilgevoord, V.W.; Simonse, O. 2023
Social welfare aims to support financially vulnerable households by protecting them from financial shocks and providing them with a basic standard of living. Many eligible households, however, do... Show moreSocial welfare aims to support financially vulnerable households by protecting them from financial shocks and providing them with a basic standard of living. Many eligible households, however, do not take up social welfare. We present the results of in-depth interviews with 31 members of financially vulnerable households in two large Dutch cities about their experiences with welfare. We examined the role of money in their lives, what inhibited them from taking up social welfare, and how they sought support. For many interviewed households, money was a source of stress. The fear of reclaims and mistrust of government institutions were the main inhibitors to participating in welfare programs. Whereas the experience of shame and stigma were substantial inhibitors for claiming local welfare benefits, they were not for participating in national welfare programs. Formal and informal help promoted welfare participation, but many participants lacked access to both. We discuss policies that could decrease the perceived uncertainty of benefits receipt and give directions for future research. Show less
Simonse, O.; Vanderveen, G.; Dillen, L.F. van; Dijk, W. van; Dijk, E. van 2022
Waarom maken veel financieel kwetsbare huishoudens geen gebruik van sociale voorzieningen, zoals toeslagen? Wij vroegen het aan degenen die dit het beste weten, namelijk mensen met een laag inkomen... Show moreWaarom maken veel financieel kwetsbare huishoudens geen gebruik van sociale voorzieningen, zoals toeslagen? Wij vroegen het aan degenen die dit het beste weten, namelijk mensen met een laag inkomen. In diepte-interviews gaven zij uitgebreid inzicht in de redenen. De overheid staat voor een grote opdracht om hun vertrouwen te herstellen. Maar het kán wel. Show less
Simonse, O.; Dijk, W. van; Dillen, L.F. van; Dijk, E. van 2022
Using longitudinal data before and during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic for a representative sample of Dutch households, we examined the role of financial stress, defined as the... Show moreUsing longitudinal data before and during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic for a representative sample of Dutch households, we examined the role of financial stress, defined as the subjective experience of lacking financial resources to cope with demands, in mental health changes. Also, we examined financial stress and mental health relations with households’ income, savings, and debts. The data revealed that average mental health did not change during the first six months of the pandemic but showed considerable underlying heterogeneity. Results showed that financial stress changes significantly explained this heterogeneity. Increases in financial stress predicted decreases in mental health, whereas decreases in financial stress predicted increases in mental health. While income did not explain financial stress changes, fewer savings and more debts were related to increased financial stress, which was, in turn, negatively related to mental health. We discuss the implications of our findings for mental health care and financial security policy and provide suggestions for future research. Show less
Dare, S.E.; Dijk, W.W. van; Dijk, E. van, Dillen, L.F. van; Gallucci, M; Simonse, O. 2022
The present study used a Solomon four-group quasi-experimental design to examine theshort-term effect of a large-scale national financial education program on children’s knowledgeand skills in... Show moreThe present study used a Solomon four-group quasi-experimental design to examine theshort-term effect of a large-scale national financial education program on children’s knowledgeand skills in responsible spending and performing transactions effectively. Our study included arepresentative sample of Dutch pupils in the fifth grade of primary school (N¼2,650). Controllingfor different children-specific characteristics, results showed that the program increased pupils’knowledge and skills scores in performing transactions effectively, but not in responsiblespending. The insights gained from the present study show how financial education programsthat enable children to immediately apply what they learn in practice can improve children’sknowledge and skills regarding certain financial competencies. Show less
Dare, S.E.; Dijk, W.W. van; Dijk, E. van; Dillen, L.F. van; Gallucci, M.; Simonse, O. 2020
A goal of financial therapies is to increase clients’ financial satisfaction by helping them to perform positive financial behaviors. The present study argues that the success of such therapies can... Show moreA goal of financial therapies is to increase clients’ financial satisfaction by helping them to perform positive financial behaviors. The present study argues that the success of such therapies can be further enhanced by considering the individual factors that underlie such behaviors. To identify the possibly most promising factors, data from the 2018 MAS Financial Capability Survey (n = 2,133) were used and three sets of individual factors were examined: knowledge factors (financial knowledge and financial confidence), attitudinal factors (future orientation and attitude toward money), and sense of control factors (spending self-control and perceived behavioral control). Path analysis findings indicated that all factors were associated with financial satisfaction via one or more positive financial behaviors. All factors except for attitude toward money were also directly related to financial satisfaction. Financial confidence was the most promising individual factor to improve clients’ financial satisfaction, followed by future orientation and perceived behavioral control. Show less
