Financial Literacy and Economic Empowerment of Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence: Examining the Differences Between Public Assistance Recipients and Nonrecipients

Abstract

Financial literacy helps build economic empowerment and self-sufficiency among economically vulnerable groups. This article explores the effect of financial literacy on the economic empowerment of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and investigates whether the relationship might differ for women receiving public assistance. Using survey data from 120 survivors of IPV, regression models examine the direct and interactive effects of financial literacy and public assistance receipt. Findings indicate that though being a public assistance recipient seems to be related to higher levels of economic empowerment, this effect disappears when controlling for financial literacy levels and their interaction with benefit status.