Income satisfaction among Millennials during COVID-19: the interplay among cognitive, noncognitive and financial factors

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine income satisfaction among Millennials during COVID-19. The authors explore the roles of cognitive factors: financial literacy and noncognitive factors: personality traits. Further, the authors also determine if financial status moderates the linkage between consumers' financial literacy and income satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachThe sample size of the study is 1754, and the data were collected from April to December 2020. The authors employ ordered logistic regression analysis in the study.FindingsThe authors find that financially literate Millennials report high-income satisfaction during the pandemic. However, the impact of the cognitive factor gets nullified after considering the role of noncognitive factors. Further, income moderates the linkage between financial literacy and income satisfaction such that financially literate consumers in the high-income category derived more income satisfaction.Practical implicationsConsumer financial education should become more pervasive, and the focus should be placed on high-income consumers as, without financial literacy, they may not report high-income satisfaction. Further, the marketers should also keep in mind that personality traits play an important role in consumers' overall satisfaction, so financial services and products should be designed considering consumer personality traits.Originality/valueThe primary contribution of the paper is to show the positive impact of cognitive and noncognitive factors on income satisfaction. Moreover, personality traits are stronger predictors of income satisfaction such that extroverted individuals have high satisfaction, whereas openness to experience and neuroticism is negatively related to income satisfaction among Millennials.

Sensory-Motor and Affective-Fatigue Factors are Associated with Symbol Digit Performance in Multiple Sclerosis

Objectives: The oral Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has become the standard for the brief screening of cognitive impairment in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It has been shown to be sensitive to sensory-motor factors involving rudimentary oral motor speed and visual acuity, as well as multiple sclerosis (MS) affective-fatigue factors including depression, fatigue, and anxiety. The present study was designed to provide a greater understanding of these noncognitive factors that might contribute to the oral SDMT by examining all these variables in the same sample. Methods: We examined 50 PwMS and 49 healthy controls (HCs). All participants were administered the oral SDMT, two sensory-motor tasks (visual acuity and oral motor speed), and three affective-fatigue measures (depression, fatigue, and anxiety). Results: Partially consistent with hypotheses, we found that sensory-motor skills, but not affective-fatigue factors, accounted for some of the group differences between the MS and HC groups on the oral SDMT, reducing the MS/HC group variance predicted from 10% to 4%. Also, PwMS with below average sensory-motor abilities had oral SDMT scores that were lower than PwMS with intact sensory-motor skills (p < .05). Finally, 71% of PwMS in the below-average sensory-motor group were impaired on the oral SDMT compared with 14% of the intact group (p = .006). Conclusions: When the oral SDMT is used as the sole screening tool for cognitive impairment in MS, clinicians should know that limitations in visual acuity and rudimentary oral motor speed should be considered as possibly being associated with performance on it in MS.

Noncognitive Factors Affecting Academic Achievement of Juvenile Delinquents

The present study provides a description and analysis of the plight of first-time detained juvenile delinquents in the United States and the impact of noncognitive attributes and academic achievement on grades. Juvenile delinquents have poor outcomes as adults in higher rates of drug abuse, poor high school graduation rates, and lowered employment well into adulthood. The research questions examined the correlation among the noncognitive attributes of grit, academic self-concept, mental health, and self-esteem, academic achievement, and English and Mathematics grades for first-time detained juvenile delinquents aged 10-18. A multiple regression analysis of archival records of students in a short-term juvenile detention center was conducted. Findings showed three predictor variables were statistically significant and influenced academic performance measured by grades: verbal ability, social self-esteem, and prosocial skills. For juvenile delinquents (n = 72; males = 58, females = 14) aged 10-18 (M =15.3; SD = 1.6; range 10-18), the three predictor variables predicted English grades (adjusted R2 = .280) and Mathematics grades (adjusted R2 = .225). There was a discussion and recommendations for policies and research. The results support the need to consider noncognitive factors and the consideration of communication skills in the education of juvenile delinquents.

Juvenile Delinquency and First-Time Detained: An Exploratory Study of Noncognitive Factors

An archival review of records for first-time detained juvenile delinquents was conducted.