Financial behaviors and adult identity: Mediating analyses of a college cohort

Using mediating analyses with Latent Change Scores (N = 208), we examined (Aim 1) associations from financial behaviors of emerging adults and romantic partners to adult identity (i.e., feeling like an adult; being recognized by others as adult; obtaining adult status), and (Aim 2) the mediating roles of depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction in these associations. We included initial levels and over-time changes in financial behaviors, depressive symptoms, and relationship satisfaction when examining these two aims. For Aim 1, financial behaviors of emerging adults (initial levels and over-time increases) predicted adult identity. For Aim 2, depressive symptoms (initial levels and over-time decreases) mediated associations from financial behaviors of emerging adults and romantic partners (initial levels and over-time increases) to adult identity. Relationship satisfaction (initial levels only) mediated associations from financial behaviors of romantic partners (initial levels and over-time increases) to adult identity. We discussed the implications of our findings.