Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2024

Department

Human Development and Family Science

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the association between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety, and explores the mediating role of financial behavior. Moreover, this research also compares the moderating effects of financial education and financial knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 18,584 consumers from the 2021 National Financial Capability Study in the U.S. was analyzed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to explore indirect associations between mobile payment usage and financial anxiety. Two undesirable financial behaviors, overspending and over-indebtedness were used as mediators between mobile payment and financial anxiety. Moreover, multi-group analyses was conducted for two financial knowledge groups and two financial education groups to examine the heterogeneity. Robustness test is employed to ensure this reliability of the results.

Findings: The SEM results showed that the positive association between mobile payment and financial anxiety was mediated by overspending and over-indebtedness in a parallel multiple mediation relationship. In addition, financial knowledge moderated the relationships between financial behaviors (overspending or over borrowing) and financial anxiety, while financial education moderated the associations between mobile payment use and overspending, and between overspending and financial anxiety.

Originality/value: This study explored the association between mobile payment use and financial anxiety, and how undesirable financial behaviors like overspending and over-indebtedness mediate this process. Furthermore, multi-group analyses were employed in financial education subsamples and financial knowledge subsamples. Based on the findings, implications were discussed for individual users, government regulation, and education programs of mobile payment.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

International Journal of Bank Marketing

Share

COinS