Buffering roles of financial resilience in navigating family stress and adolescent distress: A conditional process analysis

Abstract Objective This study examined the buffering roles of financial resilience in serial mechanisms between family economic adversity and adolescent psychological distress. Background Resilience factors are assumed to buffer family stress processes, although previous studies have primarily discussed the psychological rather than financial aspects. Financial resilience is perceived as an important socioeconomic indicator for coping with adversity, although its moderating effects in the pathways from economic adversity to parent psychological distress, family conflict, and then adolescent psychological distress remain understudied. Method A conditional process analysis was conducted to analyze parent and adolescent data from a national survey in Mainland China. Results Parent psychological distress and family conflict significantly mediated the positive association between economic adversity and adolescent psychological distress. The serial mediating effect was significant at high or low levels of financial resilience, and financial resilience significantly moderated the path from parent to adolescent psychological distress. Conclusion This study highlights the conditionally protective roles of financial resilience in family stress processes. It provides insights into the weakening intergenerational transmission of psychological distress during economic adversity. Implications This study suggests innovative and targeted practices for enhancing financial well‐being, family dynamics, and mental health in the face of socioeconomic challenges.