One Size Does Not Fit All: Counseling Paths to Restore Financial Well-being

dc.contributor.authorDarling, Paula Kotchen
dc.contributor.committeechairChakravarti, Dipankaren
dc.contributor.committeechairHerr, Paul Michaelen
dc.contributor.committeememberNi, Jianen
dc.contributor.committeememberBrinberg, David L.en
dc.contributor.departmentBusinessen
dc.date.accessioned2025-06-10T08:00:37Zen
dc.date.available2025-06-10T08:00:37Zen
dc.date.issued2025-06-09en
dc.description.abstractOne Size Does Not Fit All: Counseling Paths to Restore Financial Well-being Paula K. Darling Abstract For most people, a job loss has psychological impact on self-confidence and the loss of important social anchors. This affects their sense of well-being and their ability to cope with these psychological as well as associated financial challenges. People vary in how they attribute causality (external or internal) to a job loss and how well these match reality (i.e., whether the loss stems from external factors outside their control or from internal factors such as deficient job skills and performance). We argue that whether these causality attributions are accurate (or misattributions) influences peoples' locus of control (external or internal), the emotions they experience and their subsequent behaviors. We discuss four attribution categories and describe how receptivity to counseling components (psychological, financial, job-related competency and job search procedures. Using a grounded theory methodology, we use qualitative in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of thirty respondents to elicit descriptions of their lived experiences following job loss. We examine the extent to which these lived experiences correspond to the anticipated set of counseling needs in each attribution category. Our results show that the lived experiences (locus of control, experienced emotions, displayed behaviors and receptivity to counseling) described by our respondents generally correspond well to those anticipated. We find differences among our categories in their receptivity to counseling. Individuals in Category 1, who accurately attributed the job loss to external factors, move forward proactively to search for and quickly find new jobs. Category 2 respondents had misaligned internal attributions even for circumstances that were beyond their control. These individuals often procrastinated even as they acknowledged and were receptive to their counseling needs. Individuals in Category 3 made an incorrect external attribution and an unwillingness to recognize that the job loss resulted from their own internal deficiencies on job-related skills. They tended to deny accountability, shifted blame and showed low receptivity to available counseling resources. Finally, individuals in Category 4 made a correct attribution that the job loss was due to their own (internal) deficiencies. They acknowledged and were receptive to their counseling needs on psychological and financial dimensions, as well as for competency development. An important insight that emerged from the live experience descriptions is that the attribution categories were not fixed. Individuals sometimes transitioned from their original attribution category over time when they experienced extended periods of unemployment. Based on these results, we proposed a need for counseling programs that are not "one size fits all." Rather we propose a need to develop counseling and therapy programs that are tailored to individual needs. The proposed programs components include psychological and financial counseling, as well as support for development of job-related competencies and procedural support that facilitate the job search. We also propose the sequence in which these components need to be delivered to enhance program effectiveness. The findings contribute to both a theoretical understanding of individuals' lived experiences following job loss and provide useful guidance for practitioners in developing effective counseling and therapy programs.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralOne Size Does Not Fit All: Counseling Paths to Restore Financial Well-being Paula K. Darling General Audience Abstract For most people, a job loss has psychological impact on self-confidence and the loss of important social anchors. This affects their sense of well-being and their ability to cope with associated psychological and financial challenges. People vary in how they attribute causality (external or internal) to a job loss and how well these match reality (i.e., whether the loss stems from external factors outside their control or from internal factors such as deficient job skills). Whether these causality attributions are accurate (or misattributions) influences their locus of control (external or internal), experienced emotions and subsequent behaviors. We discuss four attribution categories and describe how receptivity to counseling components (psychological, financial, job-related competency and job search information) may vary by category. We use qualitative in-depth interviews with a selected sample of 30 respondents to elicit descriptions of their lived experience following job loss. The data showed that these (locus of control, emotions, and behaviors) were mostly as anticipated and influenced receptivity to counseling. Category 1 respondents accurately attributed the job loss to external factors and acted proactively to find new jobs. Category 2 respondents made incorrect internal attributions. They were receptive to counseling needs but often procrastinated. Respondents in Category 3 made incorrect external attributions, denied their own deficiencies, shifted blame and were unreceptive to counseling support. Category 4 respondents (correct internal attribution to own deficiencies) were open to psychological, financial and competency development counseling. Notably, attribution category membership can change with extended unemployment. We propose counseling programs that are not "one size fits all" but tailored to individual needs with a delivery sequence that enhances program effectiveness. The research contributes a more complete theoretical understanding of job loss experiences and can guide practitioners in creating effective counseling programs.en
dc.description.degreeDoctor of Philosophyen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:43941en
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10919/135428en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsCreative Commons Attribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/en
dc.subjectJob Loss Experiences; Job Loss Attributions; Job Loss Counseling Credit Counseling; Consumer Financial Decisions; Grounded Theory Development; Attribution Theory; Locus of Controlen
dc.titleOne Size Does Not Fit All: Counseling Paths to Restore Financial Well-beingen
dc.typeDissertationen
thesis.degree.disciplineBusiness, Executive Business Researchen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.leveldoctoralen
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophyen

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