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Experimental Psychology (Russia)
2025. Vol. 18, no. 4, 178–193
doi:10.17759/exppsy.2025180411
ISSN: 2072-7593 / 2311-7036 (online)

Effects of materialism on life satisfaction: The mediating role of financial stress

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. This paper presents a study of the influence of material values on satisfaction with the standard of living and life in general, conditioned by financial stress. Objective. The role of financial stress in explaining the nature of the negative relationship between materialism and satisfaction with life was investigated. Hypothesis. Empirically tested is the assumption that materialists experience financial stress more acutely than non-materialists, and which probably leads to dissatisfaction with their standard of living, which in turn reduces satisfaction with life in general. Methods and materials. The sample size was 200 respondents (51% women and 49% men). The age of respondents ranged from 17 to 59 with a mean of 38.5. The following measures were used: a short version of the value materialism questionnaire (Khashchenko, Khashchenko, 2023); a short version of the life satisfaction questionnaire (Khashchenko, Baranova, 2002); author techniques for measures financial stress and satisfaction with living standards. Results. Materialists estimated their financial stress higher than non-materialists — insufficient financial resources, including in the near future, anxiety and money needs. The assessment of satisfaction with the standard of living of materialists depends on the awareness of the severity of financial difficulties and anxiety caused by lack of money, which leads to a decrease in satisfaction with life in general. Conclusions. The results provide support model. The mediated role of financial stress in increasing the experience of a sense of subjective disadvantage among materialists, through cognitive and affective mechanisms of perception of the financial situation are discussed.

General Information

Keywords: materialism, financial stress, satisfaction with standard of living, life satisfaction

Journal rubric: Social Psychology

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180411

Received 13.08.2025

Revised 05.11.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Khashchenko, V.A., Khashchenko, N.N. (2025). Effects of materialism on life satisfaction: The mediating role of financial stress. Experimental Psychology (Russia), 18(4), 178–193. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/exppsy.2025180411

© Khashchenko V.A., Khashchenko N.N., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Valery A. Khashchenko, Doctor of Psychology, Chief Researcher, laboratory of labor psychology, ergonomics, engineering psychology and organizational psychology, Institute of Psychology of RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6257-7580, e-mail: Valery.Khashchenko@gmail.com

Nadezhda N. Khashchenko, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Researcher, Institute of Psychology of RAS, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7111-4166, e-mail: nadin-khash@yandex.ru

Contribution of the authors

Valeriy A. Khashchenko — main research ideas; writing and design of the manuscript; planning of the research; data collection.

Nadezhda N. Khashchenko — main research ideas; writing and design of the manuscript; planning of the research; data analysis.

Both authors participated in the discussion of the results and approved the final text of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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