Abstract
We examined whether various types of financial learning activities affect young adults’ objective financial knowledge and financial behavior and if so, whether different types of such activities lead to different outcomes. Using three waves of longitudinal data collected from the same participants over 5 years, we assessed financial behaviors as well as associations with objective financial knowledge and various sources of financial learning among 640 young adults. We empirically evaluated direct and mediation effects between financial learning activities and financial behaviors. The results from our multilevel mediation regression model revealed significant differences in financial behaviors depending on the type of financial learning activity a participant experienced. Meeting with a financial advisor; reading personal finance books, magazines, and websites; having parents as financial role models; and gaining objective financial knowledge were all associated with positive financial behaviors. In contrast, attending workshops and seminars was associated with negative financial behaviors. Formal classroom learning in college had no effect on financial behaviors. Our analysis further indicated that financial knowledge played an important role in improving financial behaviors, significantly mediating the association between voluntary learning or nonvoluntary learning activities and financial behaviors.
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Acknowledgements
This research uses data from the Arizona Pathways to Life Success for University Students Project (APLUS), directed by Joyce Serido at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and designed by Soyeon Shim at the University of Wisconsin-Madison & Joyce Serido. Information on how to obtain access to the APLUS data files is available on the APLUS website https://www.aplushappiness.org/
Funding
Data collection was funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education, Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation & Affiliates, and Citi Foundation. Funding support for the study provided to Mountain and Kim through a research award from The University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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Mountain, T.P., Kim, N., Serido, J. et al. Does Type of Financial Learning Matter for Young Adults’ Objective Financial Knowledge and Financial Behaviors? A Longitudinal and Mediation Analysis. J Fam Econ Iss 42, 113–132 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09689-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-020-09689-6