نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
Objective:
This study aims to explain the psychological-behavioral mechanisms that influence financial well-being. It proposes and tests a dual conceptual model that examines the sequential mediating roles of financial hardship and financial satisfaction in the relationship between financial literacy (an empowering factor) and financial stress (a hindering factor) with financial well-being.
Methodology:
This applied and descriptive-correlational study is based on Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The research population consists of students and faculty members from public and private universities in Najaf City, Iraq. A stratified random sample of 366 participants was collected. Valid international scales were used to measure constructs, and data analysis was conducted using SPSS and SmartPLS software. The significance of the results was tested using bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples.
Findings:
The results showed that financial literacy has a significant negative effect on financial hardship (β = −0.351, p < 0.001), while financial stress has a significant positive effect on financial hardship (β = 0.483, p < 0.001). Financial hardship negatively impacts financial satisfaction, and financial satisfaction positively impacts financial well-being. Financial literacy indirectly affects financial well-being positively through the pathway of financial hardship → financial satisfaction, while financial stress indirectly impacts financial well-being negatively through the same pathway.
Conclusion:
Financial well-being is influenced by cognitive factors (financial literacy) and emotional factors (financial stress), which are transmitted through the mediating pathway of “reduction/increase in financial hardship → changes in financial satisfaction.” Policymakers and educational and financial institutions are recommended to design integrated programs that enhance financial literacy and reduce financial stress.