Research projects

The breadwinner dilemma: experimental evidence on gender norms and community seedbank adoption

This research investigates how internalized gender norms—specifically, expectations tied to the male breadwinner role—shape economic decisions under conditions of financial pressure and uncertainty. In many rural settings, social norms position men as primary providers, which may create  psychological stress and induce a mental load that shapes daily choices. Despite growing recognition that poverty impacts cognition and decision-making, little is known about how this interacts with gender identity norms, especially among men. This project seeks to fill that gap by examining whether and how activating thoughts of “breadwinner strain” affects behavior related to  preferences, productivity and cooperation.

We do so in a real-world scenario with important development implications: the decision to participate in community-based seed banks. Seed banks are critical for building agricultural resilience against climate shocks but require up-front contributions and trust in communal systems. Many fail due to low initial participation. 

Building Psychological Resilience in the Workplace in Colombia 

This project explores how strengthening psychological resilience among employees can enhance their well-being, emotional balance, and performance at work. Psychological resilience refers to the ability to adapt to stress, recover from setbacks, and maintain a positive outlook in the face of challenges—a crucial skill in contexts of economic uncertainty and social change.

In collaboration with AlmaExperience Colombia, part of the AlmavivA Group, we are co-developing and testing a digital mental health intervention designed to promote resilience and emotional self-regulation in the workplace. The program integrates evidence-based techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), teaching participants how to manage anxiety, reframe negative thinking patterns, and adopt constructive coping strategies.

The intervention is context-sensitive, incorporating elements that reflect Colombia’s social and cultural environment. Tailored modules address topics such as women’s mental load, men’s breadwinner strain, and the psychological impact of exposure to uncertainty, loss, and violence. By combining behavioral insights with locally grounded narratives, the project seeks to strengthen both individual coping mechanisms and collective emotional well-being.

The invisible family load and economic decision-making in Kenya 

This project, part of my Ph.D. research, investigates how the invisible family load—also known as mental load—affects economic outcomes among men and women in low-income neighborhoods of Nairobi. Mental load refers to the cognitive and emotional management involved in organizing household activities and ensuring the well-being of family members. It is an invisible burden disproportionately carried by women worldwide, and for women living in poverty, this burden is intensified by limited access to services and resources to outsource care and domestic responsibilities.

Through a lab-in-the-field experiment with over 800 participants, we study how mental load affects productivity and occupational choices. The findings reveal that mental load reduces women’s productivity and leads men to self-select into less remunerative and cognitively demanding jobs, suggesting that mental burden shapes not only women’s economic outcomes but also men’s work trajectories in contexts of strain.

In a complementary experiment conducted in Bungoma County, we examine how mental load affects technology adoption and economic preferences, shedding light on the broader behavioral consequences of gendered cognitive overload.

As part of the project, I also developed a short documentary on mental load in Kenya, which was screened with participants in both Bungoma and Nairobi. The screenings were followed by focus group discussions to reflect on the film’s relevance and to co-design possible solutions that individuals, communities, and local authorities can take to alleviate this hidden but pervasive burden—one that is deeply intertwined with mental health and social well-being.

Useful links: mental load in Nairobi; mental load in Bungoma; published paper of Nairobi study

Funded by: LEAP, Bocconi University; Wageningen University; University of Florence