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Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tsai, J; Huang, M; Montgomery, AE; Elbogen, EB
Published in: Psychiatr Serv
December 1, 2021

OBJECTIVE: This study examined characteristics and planned expenses of U.S. adults who received the economic impact payment (EIP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Using a nationally representative sample of 6,607 middle- and low-income U.S. adults, the authors examined the proportion and correlates of EIP receipt among eligible adults and the associations among planned EIP-financed expenses, challenges with paying expenses, and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Of the sample, 78.8% reported that they received the EIP, and 82.3% of EIP recipients reported that it had a positive impact on their life. Being a veteran (odds ratio [OR]=2.59), being married (OR=1.82), having a history of schizophrenia spectrum disorder (OR=1.74) or posttraumatic stress disorder (OR=1.51), and screening negative for recent suicidal ideation (OR=0.49) were associated with EIP receipt. Planned expenses with the EIP were savings, paying debt, and rent and accounted for 63.4% of the total amount. Screening positive for mental health or drug use problems was positively associated with greater planned expenses for substances and gambling. EIP receipt also was associated with fewer problems paying daily expenses, but participants who screened positive for mental health or alcohol use problems were more likely to report problems paying past-month daily expenses. CONCLUSIONS: Unconditional cash transfers such as the EIP may be important for sustaining the living situation of middle- and low-income populations. The management of funds is important to consider, especially among adults experiencing mental health and substance abuse problems, and such cash transfers may represent opportunities for financial literacy and money management interventions.

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Published In

Psychiatr Serv

DOI

EISSN

1557-9700

Publication Date

December 1, 2021

Volume

72

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1377 / 1384

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Psychiatry
  • Poverty
  • Pandemics
  • Income
  • Humans
  • COVID-19
  • Adult
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

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ICMJE
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Tsai, J., Huang, M., Montgomery, A. E., & Elbogen, E. B. (2021). Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults. Psychiatr Serv, 72(12), 1377–1384. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202100001
Tsai, Jack, Minda Huang, Ann Elizabeth Montgomery, and Eric B. Elbogen. “Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults.Psychiatr Serv 72, no. 12 (December 1, 2021): 1377–84. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.202100001.
Tsai J, Huang M, Montgomery AE, Elbogen EB. Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults. Psychiatr Serv. 2021 Dec 1;72(12):1377–84.
Tsai, Jack, et al. “Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults.Psychiatr Serv, vol. 72, no. 12, Dec. 2021, pp. 1377–84. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202100001.
Tsai J, Huang M, Montgomery AE, Elbogen EB. Receipt, Spending, and Clinical Correlates of the Economic Impact Payment Among Middle- and Low-Income U.S. Adults. Psychiatr Serv. 2021 Dec 1;72(12):1377–1384.
Journal cover image

Published In

Psychiatr Serv

DOI

EISSN

1557-9700

Publication Date

December 1, 2021

Volume

72

Issue

12

Start / End Page

1377 / 1384

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Psychiatry
  • Poverty
  • Pandemics
  • Income
  • Humans
  • COVID-19
  • Adult
  • 4203 Health services and systems
  • 3202 Clinical sciences