The Influence of Financial Attitude and Spiritual Intelligence on Personal Financial Management Mediated by Locus of Control Among Master’s Students at the University of Mataram

Abstract

This study investigates the mediating role of locus of control in the relationship between financial attitude and spiritual intelligence on personal financial management among master’s students at the University of Mataram. An associative research design with a quantitative approach was employed. Data were collected through a survey of 295 postgraduate students selected using simple random sampling. The analysis was conducted using Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software. The results show that financial attitude and spiritual intelligence have positive and significant effects on personal financial management. Both variables also positively and significantly influence locus of control. Furthermore, locus of control has a positive and significant effect on personal financial management and significantly mediates the relationships between financial attitude and personal financial management, as well as between spiritual intelligence and personal financial management. This study contributes to the financial behavior literature by emphasizing the role of psychological and spiritual factors in shaping financial management behavior and provides practical implications for financial literacy programs in higher education