Profiles of Financial Stress Over Time Using Subgroup Analysis

This study modeled latent classes of perceived financial stress over a 6-year period in samples of African-American (N = 323) and White (N = 345) mothers. Results of latent class growth analyses (LCGA) indicated there was variability in financial stress trajectories. Four common classes were identified in both samples; however, larger proportions of African-American mothers reported moderate to very high levels of financial stress over time compared to White mothers. Conditional LCGA models indicated that income was negatively related to financial stress in both samples consistently over time. Mothers' reports of social support and depressive symptoms were also used to predict membership in the latent classes of financial stress, controlling for income, with little demonstrated effect.