Financial stress, mental health and help-seeking among postgraduate business students in Ghana: the moderating role of social support.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Accounting, University of Ghana Business School, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
- 2Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Ghana Business School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. [email protected].
- 3Department of Health Services Management, Department of Health Service Administration, University of Ghana Business School, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana.
- 4Department of Psychology, School of Social Sciences, University of Ghana Business School, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
Abstract
Background
Higher education costs have risen significantly worldwide, creating financial pressures that adversely affect students' mental health. Postgraduate students from developing countries face acute challenges due to limited funding options. While financial stress has been linked to mental health outcomes in developed countries, studies examining these dynamics among African students remain scarce. This study examines financial stress' effects on mental health of postgraduate business students in Ghana and explores whether perceived social support moderates this relationship.Methods
A survey was conducted with questionnaires as the means of data collection. A cross-sectional data from a sample of postgraduate students studying at a large public university in Ghana was used for the empirical analysis. The hypothesized relationships for the study were tested structurally using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling technique.Results
Empirical results demonstrate that when students are financially stressed, they tend to have poorer mental health outcomes even with their monthly income. Social support moderated this relationship, but not significantly. Males and older students were also found to be more vulnerable to mental health problems in this study. Also, respondents' mental health help seeking behaviors did not explain their mental health outcomes.Conclusions
Financial stress substantially impairs mental health among postgraduate students. Despite positive help-seeking attitudes and perceived social support, these factors did not buffer financial stress effects. Findings suggest urgent need for innovative financing schemes including grants and subsidized loans for postgraduate students, strengthened institutional mental health services, and targeted interventions addressing gender-specific vulnerabilities.
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BibTeX
@article{owusu2026financial,
title = {{Financial stress, mental health and help-seeking among postgraduate business students in Ghana: the moderating role of social support.}},
author = {Godfred Mathew Yaw Owusu and Joana Afful Larry-Afutu and Anita Asiwome Adzo Baku and Johnny Andoh-Arthur},
journal = {BMC public health},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28237-9},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958493},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Financial stress, mental health and help-seeking among postgraduate business students in Ghana: the moderating role of social support.
AU - Godfred Mathew Yaw Owusu
AU - Joana Afful Larry-Afutu
AU - Anita Asiwome Adzo Baku
AU - Johnny Andoh-Arthur
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/03
JO - BMC public health
DO - 10.1186/s12889-026-28237-9
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42958493
AB - Background Higher education costs have risen significantly worldwide, creating financial pressures that adversely affect students' mental health. Postgraduate students from developing countries face acute challenges due to limited funding options. While financial stress has been linked to mental health outcomes in developed countries, studies examining these dynamics among African students remain scarce. This study examines financial stress' effects on mental health of postgraduate business students in Ghana and explores whether perceived social support moderates this relationship.Methods A survey was conducted with questionnaires as the means of data collection. A cross-sectional data from a sample of postgraduate students studying at a large public university in Ghana was used for the empirical analysis. The hypothesized relationships for the study were tested structurally using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) structural equation modelling technique.Results Empirical results demonstrate that when students are financially stressed, they tend to have poorer mental health outcomes even with their monthly income. Social support moderated this relationship, but not significantly. Males and older students were also found to be more vulnerable to mental health problems in this study. Also, respondents' mental health help seeking behaviors did not explain their mental health outcomes.Conclusions Financial stress substantially impairs mental health among postgraduate students. Despite positive help-seeking attitudes and perceived social support, these factors did not buffer financial stress effects. Findings suggest urgent need for innovative financing schemes including grants and subsidized loans for postgraduate students, strengthened institutional mental health services, and targeted interventions addressing gender-specific vulnerabilities.
SN - 1471-2458
ER -