How do you define cheating in romantic relationships? Cheating is not always easy to define because it includes both observable behaviors and subjective interpretations. Constructs are ideas or theories that help us measure abstract experiences like trust, jealousy, or honesty. So, scientists developed the concept of cheating to help us better measure, predict, and understand its effects across many aspects of life, including romantic relationships. You probably have heard of some defined behaviors that go with cheating and are metrics to validate cheating accusations in relationships or school. But how does one define financial cheating? In this article, I’ll build foundational principles around financial cheating concepts and examine how academics create scales to measure these subjective, abstract aspects of being human.

When I first heard the term “gig worker,” like many curious people with a question, I immediately googled it. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a gig worker as “a person who works temporary jobs typically in the service sector as an independent contractor or freelancer.”1 There is significant hype surrounding the idea of becoming one’s own boss. After all, who doesn’t want that level of autonomy? Working from wherever you choose and during the hours you choose sounds like the perfect dream. However, while some choose this path for its flexibility, many others end up doing gig work out of necessity because they are unable to find more stable, traditional employment. I remember noticing this trend accelerating during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, but as infrastructure and technology have continued to evolve, they have fundamentally transformed work environments. This includes pre-COVID shifts toward gig work and be-your-own-boss careers. The Federal Reserve periodically surveys U.S. adults to assess working and economic conditions, and its recent data show a generally increasing portion of the workforce engaging in the gig economy or freelance work, often to supplement their income.2 While the autonomy to choose your own jobs sounds like a dream for some, for others, it can be the result of a difficult circumstance. Either way, in this article, we will explore how the flexibility and freedom gig work provides in some aspects often comes at a steep psychological price.

For many married or cohabiting couples, deciding whether to maintain separate bank accounts or establish a joint account is both a practical and relationally consequential choice! This decision is not only about money management but also reflects trust, commitment, and cooperation within the relationship. Drs. Fenaba Addo and Sharon Sassler[1] examined how financial arrangements are tied to relationship quality in over 500 low-income married and cohabiting couples.

Some might wonder why older adults are getting phone calls from non-caller ID’s or so-called family members asking for extra money or financial assistance. Older adults (ages 65 and above) are more susceptible than other ages to one of the most invasive crimes in the US: Financial fraud.1 Because this crime is so common among older adults, the specific name for financial fraud against the elderly is “Elder Fraud.”1 Each year, millions of older Americans find themselves as victims to Elder Fraud. Some financial fraud tactics include deceptive tech support, relative schemes, government impersonation scams, fake sweepstakes, and more.

What if your last argument with your partner about money wasn’t really about money at all? Often, disagreements regarding spending and saving expose how partners tie their identity, self-esteem, and sense of success to financial decisions. A recent study by Dr. Deborah Ward and colleagues examined how basing your self-esteem on financial success, a concept called Financially Contingent Self-Worth, shapes the way people experience financial conflicts in their relationships. The study also looked at how this mindset influences feelings of partner support and overall relationship satisfaction. When self-esteem is closely tied to money, even small disagreements about finances can feel personal, tense, and difficult to resolve.

I am a big fan of The Mel Robbins Podcast. In her podcast, Mel Robbins often invites scholars from various backgrounds to talk about their work, and how their work may have an impact on everyday life. Recently, one of her podcasts was centered on what it’s like to be in your 20s.[1] She discussed that many events in one’s 20s are accompanied by some level of stress.1 My twenties have been full of life-changing decisions and a mix of social, professional, and financial pressures. Research demonstrates that emerging adults are under a lot of stress, especially related to money.[2] While financial stress is common, there are a variety of contributing factors and nuances that make finances stressful for emerging adults. One of these factors is attachment style.[3]

Throughout history, society has often placed the responsibility of money on men. A particular example of this is highlighted in the first sentence of a world-renowned novel, Pride and Prejudice, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”[1] This single phrase—it is the financial position of the husband that determines his want for a wife—leaves the wife’s financial position unacknowledged and perhaps implies that a future wife should search for a man that knows how to manage his finances. Although this novel takes place in the early 1800s, these same ideas in some ways still permeate our culture today, socializing women to believe that men are the money managers. Because of this thinking, researchers have found that women are likely to have lower lifetime earnings and are less prepared for retirement, contributing to greater financial hardship.[2] But it doesn’t have to be that way! We must correct this way of thinking and empower women with confidence in their own financial skills. By challenging these old narratives, women can actively shape their financial futures rather than relying on traditional gender roles.

The newlywed period is a critical transition for couples.[1] Nearly all newlyweds face financial stress, which can affect many aspects of marriage, including marital satisfaction[2] and sexual satisfaction.[3],[4] When couples experience disagreements or challenges around money, they are also more likely to encounter conflicts in their sexual relationship[5] because financial stress can create tension, reduce emotional intimacy, and make it harder for partners to feel connected or relaxed with each other.

Money may not buy love, but it can definitely shape the balance of power in a relationship. For generations, men have been seen as the providers—the ones who bring home the paycheck and, in turn, hold decision-making power. What happens when that script flips and she earns more? Does power in marriage shift with income, or do old gender roles still quietly steer the relationship?

Imagine sitting at the dinner table with your spouse. It is common to discuss different aspects of your day such as people in your social circle or perhaps your job. However, even couples who communicate well about everyday events often have a hard time talking about sex and money, which are important aspects of a relationship. In a new social science theoretical model, it has been proposed that money and sex are both taboo topics that are often regarded as crude, unrefined, low, or even dirty.[i] Probably not considered appropriate dinner-time conversation material.