This study investigates the relationship between household debt and perceived financial well-being. Using multivariate analysis over four waves of data from the National Longitudinal Surveys (NLS), findings from this study indicate the significant impact debt can have on the financial well-being of households across America, and that households look to available resources, including income and assets, to manage their debt situation. From a consumer impact vantage point, it is critical to assess the subjective nature of financial well-being through the lens of salient objective financial measures, while integrating individual coping strategies involving resource availability.
Author(s): Tairsa Mathews, Brandon Perry, Stuart Heckman
