FAMILY Social Capital as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Financial Coping Behavior, and Subjective Well-Being of Professional Working PARENTS

Abstract

Professional working parents face challenges in balancing financial stability, family relationships, and well-being. This study looked at how family social capital mediated the relationship between professional working parents' subjective well-being and their financial coping strategies in Talomo, Davao City. A quantitative method utilizing a descriptive-correlational design and mediation analysis was employed, with data collected from 250 purposively selected participants using validated survey tools. The instruments measured subjective well-being (marital satisfaction, parenthood satisfaction, global life satisfaction), financial coping behavior (preventive and proactive strategies), and family social capital (family conflict and cohesion). Data were analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation, mediation analysis, and path plot. Results indicated high levels of subjective well-being, with parenthood satisfaction scoring highest. Financial coping behavior was also rated highly, particularly in budgeting and saving for emergencies. Family social capital demonstrated strong cohesion, though maintaining household routines was challenging. Correlational analysis confirmed significant relationships among all variables, with family social capital demonstrating the strongest association with well-being. Mediation analysis revealed that family social capital significantly mediated the link between financial coping behavior and well-being, accounting for 50.1% of the variance. The findings emphasize the critical role of family support networks in enhancing the well-being of working parents, aligning with theoretical frameworks such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and the PERMA Model. This study contributes to understanding the interplay between financial management, family dynamics, and subjective well-being, offering practical insights for institutions, employers, and families.