The Influence of Financial Literacy on the Financial Management Behavior of Accounting Students at Dehasen University Bengkulu

Abstract

This study is motivated by the increasing need for university students to understand financial management amid changing consumption patterns and the growing complexity of modern lifestyles. A low level of financial management ability may lead to consumptive behavior, difficulties in controlling expenses, and a lack of saving awareness among students. This study aims to determine the influence of financial literacy on the financial management behavior of students in the Accounting Study Program at Dehasen University. The research employed a quantitative method with an associative approach. The sample consisted of 100 respondents selected through questionnaires distributed to active students of the Accounting Study Program at Dehasen University. The data analysis techniques used in this study included validity testing, reliability testing, simple linear regression analysis, coefficient of determination analysis, and t-test analysis. The results of the study indicate that financial literacy has a positive and significant influence on students’ financial management behavior. This finding is supported by the results of the t-test, which show a significance value lower than 0.05, indicating that the research hypothesis is accepted. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination analysis reveals that financial literacy contributes 73.7% to students’ financial management behavior, while the remaining 26.3% is influenced by other factors outside the scope of this study. These findings confirm that the ability to understand financial concepts plays an important role in shaping students’ financial behavior to become more rational, disciplined, and responsible. Therefore, improving financial literacy can be considered a strategic effort to strengthen students’ financial management capabilities in a sustainable manner