Abstract
In addressing financial hardship, it is essential not only to provide support after hardship becomes apparent, but also to identify risks of livelihood hardship at an early stage and prevent its onset and escalation. Yet practical indicators that enable simple identification of such risks and early difficulties—and that connect individuals to preventive support and lifestyle improvement—remain insufficiently developed. This study aims to develop a “Simple Indicator for Poverty Prevention” (Bokyu Simple Indicator) from the perspective of Bokyu, an approach defined as the proactive prevention of livelihood hardship and mitigation of its escalation, and to examine its basic psychometric properties. As used in this paper, livelihood hardship risk encompasses not only pre-onset vulnerability but also early-stage difficulties that have already partially manifested, such as anxiety over bill payments or foregone medical care. Drawing on poverty research literature, policy documents, and interviews with support practitioners, we constructed 13 items covering four domains: Fundamental Attitudes, Finance, Health, and Social Relationships, each rated on a five-point Likert scale. Exploratory factor analysis of online survey data yielded a two-factor, nine-item structure comprising Economic Stability and Health/Money Management Capability. Subsequent regression analyses showed that Economic Stability was consistently associated with both objective economic status and subjective financial well-being. Health/Money Management Capability was associated with economic status, but its association with subjective financial well-being became less clear once control variables were introduced. While this indicator is not intended as a definitive diagnostic tool for livelihood hardship, it has potential applications as a self-screening tool for individuals assessing their own risk, as well as for practitioners conducting initial interviews or delivering Bokyu education programs.
