Understanding the linkages between precarious working conditions, financial security and financial wellbeing : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

Precarious Working Conditions, characterised by their insecure and unstable nature, have consistently been found to negatively impact one’s Wellbeing. However, their relationship to Financial Wellbeing remains unexplored. This study developed a model which explored the links between Objective and Subjective Working Conditions, Financial Security and Financial Wellbeing within an Aotearoa New Zealand context. Participants (N = 90) completed an online questionnaire assessing each construct. Based on the emerging nature of Financial Wellbeing research, an Exploratory Factor Analysis was conducted on existing measures. This identified two distinct factors: Making Ends Meet and Comfort. Path analyses using linear and non-linear regression revealed that Financial Security fully mediated the link to Financial Wellbeing ‘Making Ends Meet’ and partially mediated the link between Subjective Working Conditions and Financial Wellbeing ‘Comfort’. The findings extend upon the growing literature on employment precarity and financial vulnerability. They demonstrate that the perceived inadequacy of financial resources from one’s employment significantly undermines an individual's sense of Financial Security. This constrains both their capacity to meet immediate and ongoing financial obligations and their capacity to plan. The results offer timely insights into the financial consequences of Precarious Work, with implications for labour policy in increasingly volatile employment landscapes.