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Determinants of Indebtedness: Influence of Behavioral and Demographic Factors

Author

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  • Mahfuzur Rahman

    (Faculty of Business & Accountancy, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Azma

    (Institute for Advanced Studies, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Md. Abdul Kaium Masud

    (Department of Business Administration, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Noakhali 3814, Bangladesh
    Department of Sustainability Management, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea)

  • Yusof Ismail

    (Kulliyyah of Economics and Management Sciences, IIUM Gombak Campus, Selangor 53100, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study aims to examine the influence of behavioral and demographic factors on indebtedness by constructing a model using specific determinants. The exploratory method is used through the partial least square (SmartPLS) technique, by surveying 320 respondents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to respondents, addressing both demographic and behavioral factors. The results confirmed four of the eight hypotheses stated. Among the determinants, risk perception had a highly significant relationship with both materialism and emotion, while indebtedness had a relationship with emotion and materialism. The findings also indicated that significant differences exist between indebtedness and behavioral factors on the basis of gender, marital status, age, income, and dependence on credit cards and loans. The results may assist various economic players to design better models for credit offerings and address the credit problem in the long term.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahfuzur Rahman & Nurul Azma & Md. Abdul Kaium Masud & Yusof Ismail, 2020. "Determinants of Indebtedness: Influence of Behavioral and Demographic Factors," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:8:y:2020:i:1:p:8-:d:318842
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    References listed on IDEAS

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