Microfinance and depression: Help-Seeking as a pathway among mozambican women

作者：Aweke Tadesse, Yingying Zhang, Kenan Li, Jin Huang · 发表于：Social Sciences & Humanities Open · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.102175 · 研究领域：Microfinance and Financial Inclusion、Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare、Agricultural risk and resilience

Village Savings and Loan Groups (VSLGs) are organized groups that create opportunities for participants to save assets, one of the fast-growing community-based financial capability (FC) approaches to promote economic stability. The FC approach also positively impacts participants' social support and further improves their mental health. Few studies examined the association between VSLG participation and depression status. To fill the knowledge gap, the study examined this linkage using program data from Central Mozambique. The study applied a quasi-experimental design and sampled female VSLG participants and non-participants. Structural Equations Modeling analysis showed that women's VSLG participation ( β = −2.21, p < .001) and help-seeking behaviors ( β = −0.37, p < .001) are inversely correlated with their depression symptom scores. VSLG participation was also positively related to help-seeking behaviors ( β = 1.65, p < .001). Community-based financial capability interventions have the potential to improve women's mental health. Implications for social work practice and research are discussed.