The Relationship between Financial Knowledge, Financial Management, and Financial Self-Efficacy Among African-American Students

Abstract

The personal finance literature has documented the positive effects of financial knowledge, financial management, and financial self-efficacy on the lives of college students. However, there is a need for a more nuanced examination of how these factors shape financial decision making among African American college students. Using data obtained from the 2014 National Student Financial Wellness Study and structural equation modeling, results indicated that financial knowledge is not directly or indirectly associated with financial self-efficacy for African American students. Only financial management is significantly associated with increased financial self-efficacy. Findings indicate that financial education based on experiential learning may be effective for the well-being of African American students. Further, as the personal finance profession seeks to increase diversity in the field, experiential learning may be the vehicle to attract more African American professionals pursuing financial counseling, planning, and education professions in the future.