THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL FINANCIAL LITERACY ON PERSONAL SAVING BEHAVIOR AMONG GENERATION Z IN HO CHI MINH CITY: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE

Authors

  • Luong Huynh Anh Thu Thu Dau Mot University Corresponding Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62985/j.huit_ojs.vol26.no3E.514

Keywords:

Digital financial literacy, financial discipline, personal saving behavior, Generation Z.

Abstract

The effect of digital financial literacy on personal saving behavior of Generation Z in HCMC is investigated, focusing on financial discipline as a mediator. Using behavioral finance and self-control theory, the research paper presents a theoretically grounded conceptual argument about the issue of transferring digital financial knowledge into saving behavior based on disciplined financial practices. The data from the survey were collected for 312 participants of Generation Z and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Based on empirical results, the findings indicate that digital financial literacy positively influences financial discipline and personal saving behavior, and financial discipline is a significant mediator between digital financial literacy and financial saving behavior. The structural model has good explanatory power, with 53.7% of the variance in financial discipline and 58.9% of the variance in personal saving behavior being explained. These results indicate that digital financial literacy cannot be used to promote the development of regular saving habits unless it is coupled with sufficient financial discipline. This study adds to the literature by explaining the behavioral process that makes digital financial literacy predictive of saving behavior and provides practical implications for the financial education and policy efforts to influence saving behavior in Generation Z in Ho Chi Minh City and other metropolitan situations in Vietnam.

References

[1] W. Abdallah, F. Tfaily, and A. Harraf, “The impact of digital financial literacy on financial behavior: customers’ perspective,” Competitiveness Review: An International Business Journal, vol. 35, no. 2, pp. 347–370, Feb. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/CR-11-2023-0297

[2] Moh. M. Anwar, “How digital financial literacy and social media usage build saving behavior among Generation Z,” Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, pp. 1–26, Oct. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/APJBA-04-2025-0329

[3] S. A. Bhat, U. M. Lone, A. SivaKumar, and U. M. G. Krishna, “Digital financial literacy and financial well-being – evidence from India,” International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 522–548, Feb. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-05-2024-0320

[4] N. Chhillar, K. Sharma, and S. Arora, “Exploring the role of digital financial literacy and personal financial behavior in shaping financial stress and well-being in the digital age,” Acta Psychol. (Amst)., vol. 259, p. 105308, Sep. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105308

[5] K. K. Ingale and R. A. Paluri, “Financial literacy and financial behaviour: a bibliometric analysis,” Review of Behavioral Finance, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 130–154, Mar. 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/RBF-06-2020-0141

[6] D. Başar et al., “Digital financial literacy and savings behavior: A comprehensive cross-country analysis of FinTech adoption patterns and economic outcomes across 12 nations,” Borsa Istanbul Review, vol. 25, pp. 59–72, Oct. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bir.2025.09.004

[7] M. Setiawan et al., “Digital financial literacy, current behavior of saving and spending and its future foresight,” Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 320–338, May 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2020.1799142

[8] C. Strömbäck et al., “Does self-control predict financial behavior and financial well-being?” J. Behav. Exp. Finance, vol. 14, pp. 30–38, Jun. 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbef.2017.04.002

[9] M. S. Tahir, A. D. Ahmed, and D. W. Richards, “Financial literacy and financial well-being of Australian consumers: a moderated mediation model of impulsivity and financial capability,” International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 39, no. 7, pp. 1377–1394, Oct. 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-09-2020-0490

[10] W. Shi, M. Ali, and C.-M. Leong, “Dynamics of personal financial management: a bibliometric and systematic review on financial literacy, financial capability and financial behavior,” International Journal of Bank Marketing, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 125–165, Jan. 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-06-2023-0359

Downloads

Published

2026-08-27

Issue

Section

Economics

How to Cite

Luong Huynh Anh Thu. (2026). THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL FINANCIAL LITERACY ON PERSONAL SAVING BEHAVIOR AMONG GENERATION Z IN HO CHI MINH CITY: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE. HUIT Journal of Science, 26(3E), 762. https://doi.org/10.62985/j.huit_ojs.vol26.no3E.514