Hermawan Sutanto, Fitri Handayani, Silvia Sofyan

A structure model of economic resilience on female single-parent families: The contribution of digital inclusion, financial management and financial trauma

Introduction

A structure model of economic resilience on female single-parent families: the contribution of digital inclusion, financial management and financial trauma. This study examines economic resilience in female single-parent families, analyzing digital inclusion, financial management, and financial trauma. Digital access & financial skills are key to sustainable resilience.

Abstract

Female single-parent households are among the most vulnerable groups to economic shocks due to limited access to resources, decent work, and social protection. Strengthening their economic resilience is therefore a pressing challenge, particularly in the era of digitalization where opportunities and risks coexist.This study aims to examine the role of digital inclusion, financial management, and financial trauma in shaping the economic resilience of female-headed households in Medan.The research contributes to the literature by integrating digital and psychosocial dimensions into a structural model of economic resilience, while also offering evidence-based insights for inclusive empowerment policies.A quantitative approach was employed using a survey of 200 respondents, and data were analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS).The results indicate that digital inclusion significantly improves financial management and directly enhances economic resilience. Financial management mediates the relationship between digital inclusion and economic resilience, showing that digital access only translates into stronger resilience when supported by effective financial practices. Financial trauma, while directly influencing economic resilience, was not found to moderate the link between financial management and resilience.In conclusion, the findings highlight that access to digital technology combined with strong financial management skills is the key to building sustainable economic resilience in female-headed households.

Review

This study addresses a highly pertinent and critical issue concerning the economic resilience of female single-parent families, a demographic particularly vulnerable to economic shocks. The researchers' objective to integrate digital inclusion, financial management, and financial trauma into a structural model of economic resilience is commendable, offering a novel approach to understanding these complex dynamics, especially within the context of digitalization. The use of a quantitative approach with SEM-PLS on a sample of 200 respondents from Medan provides a structured method for examining the proposed relationships. The findings, particularly the significant roles of digital inclusion and financial management, and the mediating effect of the latter, offer valuable evidence for policymakers aiming to develop more inclusive empowerment strategies. The direct influence of financial trauma on economic resilience also highlights a crucial psychosocial dimension often overlooked. While the study provides a solid foundation, several areas warrant further consideration. The sample size of 200 respondents from a single geographic location (Medan) might limit the generalizability of the findings to other regions or countries with different socio-economic landscapes and digital infrastructure. A more explicit discussion of the theoretical frameworks underpinning the proposed structural model would strengthen its conceptual rigor. Furthermore, while the abstract indicates that financial trauma was not found to moderate the link between financial management and resilience, a deeper qualitative exploration or a more nuanced discussion of this specific finding would enrich its interpretation, especially given the complex nature of trauma. The abstract also omits details regarding the specific instruments used for measuring these constructs and their psychometric properties, which are crucial for assessing the robustness of the quantitative analysis. Despite these points for refinement, this research makes a valuable contribution to the literature on economic resilience, particularly by bridging the digital and psychosocial dimensions. The key takeaway that digital access must be complemented by strong financial management skills for sustainable resilience is a powerful and actionable insight for policy and intervention design. Future research could expand upon this work by replicating the study in diverse cultural and economic settings, exploring potential moderating roles of other variables (e.g., social capital, government support), and employing mixed-methods approaches to gain a deeper, more nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of female single-parent families in navigating economic precarity. Overall, this study offers a significant step forward in understanding how to bolster the economic stability of this vulnerable population.

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