Relationship between individual characteristics, neurotic personality, personal financial distress, and financial behavior

Abstract

Financial distress is not only experienced by people with no income, but also those with a large income. This research aims to examine the effect of individual characteristics and a neurotic personality on personal financial difficulties with financial behaviour as an intervening variable. The study involved 600 Indonesian respondents. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling—the partial least squares method. The results of this study revealed that at an alpha level of 5%, neurotic traits have significant effects on financial behaviour and personal financial distress. The higher the score of a person’s neuroticism, the lower their investment consideration, which consequently leads to the tendency of falling into debt and as a result financial distress. Good financial behaviour can mitigate the financial distress faced by an individual with a high neuroticism score.