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Credit Card Practices of Vietnamese and Laotian Newcomers to Canada: A 10-year Longitudinal Perspective

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Abstract

This is the first study to follow a group of refugees (N = 647) for 10 years to identify how they acquired and used credit cards, a novel product to them. Acculturation to Canadian credit card use occurred; there was a dramatic increase in having cards (from 4% to 77%). The main reason initially for not having a card was knowledge barriers; later on, attitudinal, such as preferring to pay cash. Variables accounting for credit card use after 4 and 10 years were: being employed with higher income, having a checking account, being married, younger, and more fluent in English. Changing from not having to having a credit card was fostered by remaining (or becoming) married, employed, and good in English.

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Acknowledgments

Data for this study were collected for the longitudinal research project, “Settlement of Indochinese Refugees in Canada: Psychological, Social, Employment and Consumer Aspects,” supported by grants from Canada Health and Welfare NHRDP, Secretary of State’s Multiculturalism Directorate, United Way and Woodward Foundation of Vancouver. Principal investigators for the project are Morton Beiser, M.D., Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto and Phyllis J. Johnson, Ph.D., University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Dr. Richard Nann, Social Work, was co-investigator for the first phase of the study. We thank our research assistants: Pauline Au, Susan Johnston, Esther Kwong, Bich Pham and Daniel Roshi for their contributions to the research. Jonathan Berkowitz provided statistical consulting.

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  1. School of Social Work and Family Studies, University of British Columbia, 2080 West Mall, V6T 1Z2, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Phyllis J. Johnson

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  1. Phyllis J. Johnson
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Correspondence to Phyllis J. Johnson.

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Johnson, P.J. Credit Card Practices of Vietnamese and Laotian Newcomers to Canada: A 10-year Longitudinal Perspective. J Fam Econ Iss 28, 227–246 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-007-9056-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-007-9056-9

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