Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, Vol 49(3), Sep 2026, 225-234; doi:10.1037/prj0000687
Objective: Financial independence, an important developmental milestone of emerging adulthood (ages 18–29), is critical to independent functioning in life. Examining whether financial independence in emerging adults with serious mental illness (SMI) is associated with self-stigma may inform ways to support achieving this milestone. Financial independence was investigated as a mediator between self-stigma and two of its harmful outcomes, lower self-esteem, and an increased “why try” effect. The “why try” effect was defined as a sense of futility about achieving life goals due to self-stigma. Self-stigma was expected to be associated with less financial independence, and less financial independence was expected to be related to reduced self-esteem and an increased “why try” effect. Method: Emerging adult community mental health center clients who had an SMI (n = 239) were recruited to complete an electronic survey. Path analysis was used to analyze data. Results: Consistent with previous research, self-stigma was associated with decreased self-esteem and an increased “why try” effect. Financial independence was associated with higher self-esteem and, unexpectedly, with an increased “why try” effect. Contrary to past findings among adults, self-stigma was associated with increased financial independence. Two indirect associations through financial independence were observed between (a) self-stigma and self-esteem and (b) self-stigma and the “why try” effect. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: Findings indicate that emerging adults with SMI may simultaneously experience self-stigma, financial independence, and the “why try” effect. Implications for psychiatric rehabilitation include increasing assistance with managing self-stigma among emerging adults with SMI pursuing financial independence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)