Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Jan 16;105(3):e45834. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000045834.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: According to the literature, people who suffer from financial anxiety exhibit denial, skewed financial actions, and cognitive disturbances related to debt. As a result, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive behavioral financial treatment on loan anxiety among employees.
METHODS: A group-randomized trial design was adopted, with 106 public servants randomly allocated to the intervention group and a waitlist control group as participants. Two versions of the Financial Anxiety Scale (FAS-A and FAS-P) created by 2 authors were utilized to collect data. Intervention consisted of a 3-month cognitive behavioral financial treatment program presented in 5 sessions, with the goal of assisting participants in identifying and changing their dysfunctional beliefs regarding the loan and other money-related concerns in order to bring about adaptive emotional and behavioral change.
RESULTS: A 2-way analysis of covariance demonstrated a consistent decrease in the mean financial anxiety scores of employees on loan in the treatment group over time, as measured by FAS-A and FAS-P.
CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, we recommend that an intervention program be developed to identify and diagnose distorted or maladaptive financial attitudes and behavior in people suffering from various debt-related mental health disorders.
PMID:41559980 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000045834
