Evaluation of the Financial Threat Scale (FTS) in four European, non-student samples

•The FTS was psychometrically evaluated in four adult European samples.•Results were highly similar across samples, attesting to the FTS’ generalizability.•The FTS related to financial situation, personality, and psychological health variables.•The FTS mediated the relation between economic hardship and psychological well-being.

The Financial Threat Scale (FTS) was designed to assess levels of fear, uncertainty, and preoccupation about the stability and security of one's finances. In previous research with Canadian university students, it was shown that the FTS was a psychometrically sound measure, associated with failing personal financial conditions, threat-related personality characteristics, and depreciated psychological health. The present investigation further examines the FTS in a diverse set of non-student European samples. Data were collected in four countries using a self-report questionnaire which included measures of ones’ financial situation, personality, and psychological health. Results were highly similar to the findings of the previous study. The FTS is unidimensional, reliable, and its validity was supported by moderate statistical relations with variables such as job insecurity, self-esteem, and emotional exhaustion. Importantly, financial threat was higher in countries that fared poorly in the recent financial crisis than countries that fared well, and it mediated the relation between economic hardship and psychological well-being. Implications for researchers are discussed.