The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between the big five personality traits and personal financial planning (PFP) by focusing on the mediating role of mental accounting among Indian service sector employees.
The present study used a data set comprising 649 valid responses obtained through the structured questionnaire that was specifically disseminated to employees working in the Indian service sector. Further, the study used a quantitative approach, partial least squares structural equation modeling, to examine the hypothesized relationship.
The study’s outcomes reveal that mental accounting completely mediates the relationship between conscientiousness and PFP. In addition, extraversion and neuroticism traits have directly influenced the PFP, but in the presence of mental accounting, these traits have partially influenced the PFP. Furthermore, the results suggest that agreeableness directly affects PFP, whereas openness does not demonstrate any significant influence.
The existing literature within the field of PFP has primarily focused on exploring various variables associated with mental accounting, such as monetary and time costs, mental budgeting process and tax liabilities. However, it has overlooked the potential mediating effect of mental accounting. This study bridges this gap by investigating the impact of mental accounting as a mediator in the relationship between personality traits and PFP. Moreover, recently, the Indian economy has undergone major overhauls especially due to enactment of Goods and Services Tax and the profound impact of COVID-19, leading to changes in financial behavior of individuals. Therefore, this study endeavors to shed light on the emerging dynamics within the PFP domain, particularly within the context of the newly accustomed economic circumstances in India.
