Financial Stress as a Moderator in the Relationship Between Family Support and Perceived Stress

This research examines how financial burdens affect the connection between stress and family support among undergraduate students in Malaysia. This investigation involved students from 20 public universities, and data was gathered from 387 students through a web-based questionnaire. The findings show that family support plays an important role in reducing stress. It helps students feel more resilient and improves their well-being. However, when students face high financial stress, this positive effect weakens. Financial strain not only increases overall stress but also reduces the helpful impact of family support. The study highlights how closely financial and family factors are connected. Financial struggles can take away the mental health benefits of having strong family support. It also shows how issues with money and family make it harder for students to deal with stress. To solve these problems, targeted solutions are needed. These could include creating family-focused support programs, reducing credit card debt, or teaching financial skills. Such efforts can help lower stress and improve students’ mental health and academic performance.