ABSTRACT
We propose a Pandemic Risk Perception Scale. Our scale comprises two constructs, Dread Risk and Personal Exposure, divided into five dimensions: Infection Risk, Emotional Health Risk, Health System Risk,Financial Risk, and Alimentary Risk. Using multidimensional item response theory, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling on two samples of respondents, our results show that Alimentary Risk, Health System Risk, and Emotional Health Risk are the main dimensions of risk perception for the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, Infection Risk has a minor impact on the pandemic's risk perception, suggesting the presence of different dynamics between personal and general risk perceptions for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Emotions/physiology , Pandemics , Perception , Risk Assessment/methods , SARS-CoV-2 , Surveys and Questionnaires , COVID-19/psychology , HumansABSTRACT
This article aims to assess the loss of financial well-being in the COVID-19 pandemic. The developed theoretical model identifies the impacts of the perception of financial risk and financial anxiety on financial well-being. It also seeks, through a comparative analysis, to assess whether public servants, due to their status of job stability in Brazil, are less likely to have the effects of the pandemic than private employees. A survey was carried out on 1222 Brazilians with structural equation modeling and multi-group invariance tests. The results indicate that lower financial well-being is influenced by the level of financial anxiety and financial risk. Public servants perceive fewer losses in financial well-being, anxiety and risks than other professions. In the pandemic context, where the risks of unemployment and loss of income are increased, job stability works like an insurance, allowing public servants greater financial security and then minor losses of financial well-being. Evidence indicates that in countries where a large percentage of workers have temporary or informal jobs, the challenge of reducing the financial impacts of the pandemic will be great. Interventions to alleviating anxiety and public policies of income transfer and reduction of unemployment are instruments to reduce the loss of financial well-being.
ABSTRACT
Resumo O estudo teve como objetivo analisar a Satisfação Global de Vida (SGV) e o Bem-estar Financeiro (BEF) de indivíduos de baixa renda. Para isso, foram investigados 595 beneficiários do Programa Bolsa Família (PBF), mediante um questionário. A análise dos dados se deu por meio da estatística descritiva, modelagem de equações estruturais e cluster. Os principais resultados apontam que a amostra está satisfeita de maneira global com a vida, mas preocupa-se e sente-se desconfortável com a quantia que deve, o que minimiza o BEF. Ratificando esse resultado, o cluster de maior representatividade é formado pelos beneficiários com alta SGV e baixo BEF, os quais apresentam condições financeiras precárias, contas em atraso, nome vinculado a um cadastro negativo e restrição orçamentária que não permite a realização de poupança, nem o consumo de coisas extras.
Resumen El estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la Satisfacción Global de Vida (SGV) y el Bienestar Financiero (BEF) de individuos de baja renta. Para eso, fueron investigados 595 beneficiarios del Programa Bolsa Familia (PBF) a través de un cuestionario. El análisis de los datos se realizó por medio de estadística descriptiva, modelaje de ecuaciones estructurales y cluster. Los principales resultados apuntan que la muestra está satisfecha de manera global con la vida, pero se preocupan y se sienten incómodos con el monto que deben, lo que minimiza el BEF. Ratificando este resultado, el cluster de mayor representatividad es formado por beneficiarios con alta SGV y baja BEF, los cuales presentan condiciones financieras precarias, cuentas atrasadas, nombre vinculado a un catastro negativo y restricción presupuestal que no permite la realización de ahorro ni el consumo de cosas extras.
Abstract The study aims to analyze overall life satisfaction (OLS) and the financial well-being (FWB) of low income individuals by investigating 595 beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família Program through a questionnaire. The data analysis includes descriptive statistics, structural equation modeling, and clustering. The main results show that the people in this sample are satisfied overall with life, but are worried about and feel uncomfortable with the amount they owe, which lowers FWB. Confirming this result, the most representative cluster is made up of beneficiaries with high OLS and low FWB, who have precarious financial conditions, past due accounts and negative credit records as well as budget constraints that mean they cannot accumulate savings and cannot afford extra consumption.
