School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Damour, Lebanon.
Center of Excellence in Research, Education, and Cultural Studies (CEREC), Beirut, Lebanon.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Oct 31;24(1):3017. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20544-3.
This study investigates the impact of financial insecurity on the mental well-being and stress levels of parents in Lebanon amid the country's severe economic crisis. The context of Lebanon's economic collapse, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Beirut port explosion, has exacerbated financial and psychological distress among the population. This research aims to understand the correlation between financial instability and parental stress, identifying key factors contributing to mental health challenges in this demographic.
Employing a quantitative research approach, data was collected through an online survey from 785 parents from different backgrounds in Lebanon. The survey incorporated sociodemographic questions, the InCharge Financial Distress/Financial Well-Being Scale (IFDFW), and the Arabic version of the Parental Stress Scale (PSS). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.
Findings showed significant correlations between high levels of parental stress and factors such as age (r = 0.071, p = 0.047) and lower education levels. Notably, refugees residing in Lebanon exhibited higher stress levels compared to Lebanese parents (mean stress score: 51.73 vs. 45.71, p < 0.001). Similarly, employed participants exhibited higher stress levels compared to the nonworking (mean stress score: 46.75 vs. 44.60, p = 0.003). A significant inverse association was found between financial well-being and parental stress (r=-0.216, p < 0.001), emphasizing the profound impact of economic instability on mental health.
This study highlights the adverse effects of financial insecurity on parents' mental health, primarily during a period of economic instability, emphasizing the urgent need for targeted support interventions. These findings contribute to the literature on economic crises and mental health, providing a basis for future research and policy development in similar contexts.
本研究调查了在黎巴嫩严重经济危机期间，金融不安全对父母的心理健康和压力水平的影响。黎巴嫩经济崩溃的背景，加上 COVID-19 大流行和贝鲁特港口爆炸的影响，加剧了民众的经济和心理困扰。这项研究旨在了解金融不稳定与父母压力之间的相关性，确定导致这一人群心理健康挑战的关键因素。
采用定量研究方法，从黎巴嫩不同背景的 785 名父母中通过在线调查收集数据。该调查采用了社会人口学问题、InCharge 财务压力/财务幸福感量表（IFDFW）和阿拉伯语版父母压力量表（PSS）。使用 SPSS 版本 25 进行数据分析。
研究结果表明，父母压力与年龄（r=0.071，p=0.047）和较低教育水平等因素之间存在显著相关性。值得注意的是，居住在黎巴嫩的难民的压力水平高于黎巴嫩父母（平均压力得分：51.73 对 45.71，p<0.001）。同样，就业参与者的压力水平高于非就业者（平均压力得分：46.75 对 44.60，p=0.003）。还发现财务幸福感与父母压力之间存在显著负相关（r=-0.216，p<0.001），强调了经济不稳定对心理健康的深远影响。
本研究强调了金融不安全对父母心理健康的不利影响，特别是在经济不稳定时期，强调了迫切需要有针对性的支持干预措施。这些发现为经济危机和心理健康文献做出了贡献，为类似背景下的未来研究和政策制定提供了基础。
