Identifying Anxiety, Need to Belong, and Age as Risk Factors for Financial Exploitation

Date of Submission

2025

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Psychology

Department Chair

Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP

First Advisor

Stephen Poteau, PhD

Second Advisor

Barbara Golden, PsyD

Third Advisor

David Smith, PhD

Abstract

Mobile phones and technology have become commonplace spaces for sharing personal information. From social media applications to banking applications, many individuals have adapted to digitizing their lives. However, the risk of financial exploitation (FE) could not be higher due to the various connection modes. Many become victims of these scams because they have become more believable and sophisticated. Current literature has identified poor physical health, less fulfillment of social needs, and limited social support networks as risk factors for FE.

Additionally, age has been identified as a risk factor for financial exploitation; however, other studies have suggested that age itself is not a direct risk factor. Trust and social influence are tactics used for scams; however, little is known about the need to belong and anxiety as direct risk factors for FE. Results of the current study found that both the need to belong, measured by the Need to Belong Scale (NTBS), and anxiety, measured by the Screen for Adult Related Anxiety Disorders (SCAARED), are related to higher financial exploitation risk, as measured by the Financial Exploitation Vulnerability Scale- Short Form (FEVS-SF), but the relationships were only moderately correlated.

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