Factors affecting personal financial management behaviors: evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

This study investigates factors affecting personal financial management behaviors by examining the relationships among four factors including personal financial attitude, financial knowledge, locus of control and financial management behaviors. The research model is examined by using a survey approach on the youth in Vietnam. In the paper, Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to test measurement scale while the structural equation modeling is used for measuring the relationships. The findings suggest that, all three key factors have direct effects on financial management behaviors, in which they explained 62.1% of the variance of financial management behaviors of respondents. Financial attitude and financial knowledge significantly positive relate to financial management behaviors. Besides, the person who has more external locus of control leads worse financial management behaviors. In addition, the results do not support for the indirect effect of financial knowledge on financial management behavior through locus of control and the moderated role of financial knowledge on the relationship between financial attitude and financial management behavior. These findings could be useful references for related organizations as well as financial institutes that are interested in developing personal financial management in a context of emerging economies like Vietnam.