Leiden University Student Repository

Witte, Sven (2023)

The Ostrich Effect: The Ostrich Effect

Master thesis | Psychology (MSc)

As individuals are faced with more financial stress, the tendency to avoid one’s financial situation increases. Among students, this could potentially affect how well they are trying to resolve their financial stress. A correlational study was performed in which data was collected from 143 students from the United Kingdom and analyzed in order to assess the relationship between financial stress and actions students are undertaking to resolve their financial stress, as well as examining the potential mediating role of financial avoidance in this relationship. This study found that neither avoiding financial information, nor delaying financial decisions mediate the relationship between financial stress and the actions students undertake to resolve their financial stress. In contrast to prior research, it was found that students, when experiencing more financial stress, students are undertaking more actions towards resolving their financial stress, instead of less.

financial stress

financial avoidance

students

actions towards resolving financial stress

intention-behavior gap

Author

Witte, Sven

Faculty

Faculty of Social & Behavioural Sciences

Specialisation

Economic & Consumer Psychology

Supervisors

Does Trying to Ignore Their Financial Situation Influence How Well Students Deal with Financial Stress?

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en