For many Americans, debt is more than just a financial issue: it’s a problem with far-reaching health and social implications. Research suggests that rising debt and worries about financial security are related to heightened levels of psychological distress, which in turn leads to adverse health outcomes such as heart disease, immunosuppression, emotional exhaustion and even increased mortality.
A recent study by Northwestern Mutual showed that 66% of respondents carried some form of debt and the average personal debt reached approximately $23,000. Compounding the concern over rising debt are feelings of financial insecurity: Roughly one-third (33%) of adults…
