Understanding the Importance of Financial Behavior in Postgraduate Students

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 111 views

The Influence of Financial Attitude, Income, Financial Literacy, and Financial Risk Tolerance on Lifestyle and Financial Management Behavior in Postgraduate Students

Understanding the Importance of Financial Behavior in Postgraduate Students

As future leaders and professionals, postgraduate students are expected to have a strong understanding of financial management. However, the reality is that not all postgraduate students have good attitudes, literacy, and financial management. This study aimed to investigate the effect of financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, and risk tolerance on lifestyle and financial management behavior in postgraduate students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, North Sumatra State Islamic University.

Methodology and Data Collection

This study involved 81 postgraduate students who were randomly selected. Data was collected through questionnaires and interviews, then analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). The study aimed to explore the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in postgraduate students.

Research Results and Their Meanings

The results showed an interesting relationship between the variables studied:

*** Financial Attitude: **has a significant positive influence on lifestyle, but its effect on financial management behavior is not significant. That is, students with positive financial attitudes tend to have a better lifestyle, but do not always have an impact on better financial management. This suggests that while a positive financial attitude is essential for a good lifestyle, it may not necessarily translate to better financial management behavior.

*** Income: **has an insignificant positive influence on the lifestyle and financial management behavior. This shows that income is not always a dominant factor in determining the lifestyle and financial behavior of postgraduate students. This finding is significant, as it highlights the importance of other factors, such as financial literacy and risk tolerance, in determining financial behavior.

*** Financial Literacy: **has a significant positive influence on financial management behavior, but its effect on lifestyle is not significant. That is, students with high financial literacy tend to have good financial management behavior, but do not always have an impact on lifestyle changes. This suggests that financial literacy is a critical factor in determining financial management behavior, but may not necessarily influence lifestyle choices.

*** Risk Tolerance: **has a significant negative influence on the lifestyle and financial management behavior. This shows that the higher the risk tolerance, the lower the tendency of students to manage finances well and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This finding is significant, as it highlights the importance of risk management in determining financial behavior.

*** Lifestyle: **Has a significant positive influence on financial management behavior. That is, a good lifestyle can encourage students to implement more effective financial management strategies. This suggests that a healthy lifestyle is essential for good financial management behavior.

The Important Role of Lifestyle as a Mediator

The results also showed that lifestyle was able to mediate the influence of financial attitudes on financial management behavior. That is, positive financial attitudes will have an impact on a good lifestyle, which ultimately leads to more effective financial management behavior. This finding is significant, as it highlights the importance of lifestyle as a mediator between financial attitudes and financial management behavior.

Implications and Recommendations

This research has an important implication for the world of education and character development of postgraduate students. The need for efforts to improve:

Positive Financial Attitude: Campus can implement programs that encourage positive financial attitudes, such as seminars, workshops, and discussions about wise financial management.

*Financial Literacy: Increasing financial literacy through lecture material, educational programs, and literacy activities involving experts.

*Risk Tolerance Control: Increasing student awareness about the importance of managing risk and its impact on financial and lifestyle behavior.

This study shows that the active role of the campus in shaping the character and financial behavior of postgraduate students is very important. By increasing attitudes, literacy, and control of risk tolerance, it is hoped that postgraduate students can have healthy financial management behavior and balanced lifestyle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, and risk tolerance in determining lifestyle and financial management behavior in postgraduate students. The findings suggest that a positive financial attitude, financial literacy, and risk management are essential for good financial management behavior. Furthermore, lifestyle plays a critical role as a mediator between financial attitudes and financial management behavior. The implications of this study are significant, as they highlight the need for efforts to improve financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.

Recommendations for Future Research

Future research should aim to explore the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in different populations, such as undergraduate students or working professionals. Additionally, research should aim to investigate the effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at improving financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations. Firstly, the sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Secondly, the study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to biases and errors. Finally, the study did not control for other factors that may influence financial behavior, such as family background and socioeconomic status.

Future Directions

Future research should aim to address these limitations and explore the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in different populations. Additionally, research should aim to investigate the effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at improving financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.

Conclusion

Q: What is the main objective of this study?

A: The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, and risk tolerance on lifestyle and financial management behavior in postgraduate students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, North Sumatra State Islamic University.

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

A: The key findings of this study are:

Financial attitude has a significant positive influence on lifestyle, but its effect on financial management behavior is not significant.
Income has an insignificant positive influence on the lifestyle and financial management behavior.
Financial literacy has a significant positive influence on financial management behavior, but its effect on lifestyle is not significant.
Risk tolerance has a significant negative influence on the lifestyle and financial management behavior.
Lifestyle has a significant positive influence on financial management behavior.

Q: What is the role of lifestyle as a mediator in this study?

A: The results of this study show that lifestyle is able to mediate the influence of financial attitudes on financial management behavior. That is, positive financial attitudes will have an impact on a good lifestyle, which ultimately leads to more effective financial management behavior.

Q: What are the implications of this study for education and character development of postgraduate students?

A: The implications of this study are significant, as they highlight the need for efforts to improve financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students. Campus can implement programs that encourage positive financial attitudes, increase financial literacy, and control risk tolerance.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study are:

The sample size was relatively small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to biases and errors.
The study did not control for other factors that may influence financial behavior, such as family background and socioeconomic status.

Q: What are the recommendations for future research?

A: Future research should aim to explore the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in different populations, such as undergraduate students or working professionals. Additionally, research should aim to investigate the effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at improving financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.

Q: What are the practical implications of this study for postgraduate students?

A: The practical implications of this study are significant, as they highlight the importance of financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in determining financial management behavior. Postgraduate students should strive to develop a positive financial attitude, increase their financial literacy, and control their risk tolerance to achieve a healthy lifestyle and effective financial management behavior.

Q: What are the future directions for this research?

A: Future research should aim to address the limitations of this study and explore the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in different populations. Additionally, research should aim to investigate the effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at improving financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study in real-world settings?

A: The potential applications of this study are significant, as they highlight the importance of financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in determining financial management behavior. The findings of this study can be applied in real-world settings, such as:

Financial education programs for postgraduate students
Risk management strategies for postgraduate students
Lifestyle interventions for postgraduate students
Financial planning and management for postgraduate students

Q: What are the potential benefits of this study for postgraduate students?

A: The potential benefits of this study for postgraduate students are significant, as they highlight the importance of financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in determining financial management behavior. The findings of this study can help postgraduate students to:

Develop a positive financial attitude
Increase their financial literacy
Control their risk tolerance
Achieve a healthy lifestyle and effective financial management behavior

Q: What are the potential limitations of this study for postgraduate students?

A: The potential limitations of this study for postgraduate students are:

The study relied on self-reported data, which may be subject to biases and errors.
The study did not control for other factors that may influence financial behavior, such as family background and socioeconomic status.
The study was conducted in a specific population, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Q: What are the potential future directions for this research?

A: The potential future directions for this research are:

Exploring the relationship between financial attitudes, income, financial literacy, risk tolerance, lifestyle, and financial management behavior in different populations.
Investigating the effectiveness of programs and interventions aimed at improving financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle in postgraduate students.
Developing financial education programs for postgraduate students.
Investigating the impact of financial literacy, risk tolerance, and lifestyle on financial management behavior in postgraduate students.