Main Article Content

Abstract

This research examines the role of financial knowledge and self-efficacy in shaping financial well-being, with digital financial inclusion tested as a mediating factor. Survey data were collected from 407 Indonesian respondents and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that both financial knowledge and self-efficacy significantly influence digital financial inclusion. Digital financial inclusion, in turn, positively affects financial well-being. Self-efficacy also directly improves financial well-being, whereas financial knowledge shows no direct impact. Instead, financial knowledge indirectly contributes to financial well-being through digital financial inclusion, underscoring the mediating role of digital access. This study adds to the financial behavior literature by highlighting digital financial inclusion as a crucial channel that converts capability into improved outcomes, and by showing that self-efficacy plays a stronger role than knowledge alone. The findings suggest that policies and programs should go beyond literacy campaigns to also strengthen financial confidence and digital readiness, particularly among younger groups and vulnerable communities. The study is limited by its reliance on self-reported, cross-sectional data and its focus on the Indonesian context, which may constrain causal inference and limit the generalizability of the results.

Keywords

Financial Well-being Financial Knowledge Self-Efficacy Digital Financial Inclusion

Article Details

How to Cite
Hesniati, H., Anggriani, A., Suprapto, Y., & Arviano, H. (2025). Financial Knowledge, Self-Efficacy, and Financial Well-Being: The Role of Digital Inclusion in Indonesia. Golden Ratio of Finance Management, 6(1), 01–14. https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v6i1.1779

References

  1. Abrantes-Braga, F. D. M. A. & Veludo-de-Oliveira, T. (2020). Help me, I can’t afford it! Antecedents and consequences of risky indebtedness behaviour. European Journal of Marketing, 54(9), 2223–2244. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-06-2019-0455
  2. Al Rahahleh, N. (2024). From Literacy to Inclusion: The Essential Role of Financial Self-Efficacy. Review of Development Finance, 14(2), 78–93. https://doi.org/10.10520/ejc-rdfin_v14_n2_a5
  3. Al-shami, S. A., Damayanti, R., Adil, H., Farhi, F. & Al, A. (2024). Financial and digital financial literacy through social media use towards financial inclusion among batik small enterprises in Indonesia. Heliyon, 10(15), e34902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34902
  4. Badan Pusat Statistik. (2025). Jumlah penduduk usia 15 tahun ke atas menurut golongan umur. https://www.bps.go.id/id/statistics-table/2/NzE1IzI=/jumlah-penduduk-usia-15-tahun-ke-atas-menurut-golongan-umur.html
  5. Badrudin, R., Fahlevi, M., Dahlan, S. P., Dahlan, O. P., & Dandi, M. (2025). Financial stress and its determinants in Indonesia: Exploring the moderating effects of digital knowledge, age, and gender. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 11(2), 100528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2025.100528
  6. Bandura, A. (1991). Social cognitive theory of self-regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 248–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90022-L
  7. Basnayake, D., Naranpanawa, A., Selvanathan, S. & Bandara, J. S. (2024). Financial inclusion through digitalization and economic growth in Asia-Pacific countries. International Review of Financial Analysis, 96(PA), 103596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2024.103596
  8. Çera, G., Khan, K. A., Mlouk, A. & Brabenec, T. (2021). Improving financial capability: the mediating role of financial behaviour. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istrazivanja , 34(1), 1265–1282. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2020.1820362
  9. Chhillar, N., Sharma, K. & Arora, S. (2025). Exploring the role of digital financial literacy and personal financial behavior in shaping financial stress and well-being in the digital age. Acta Psychologica, 259(April). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105308
  10. Chong, K. F., Sabri, M. F., Magli, A. S., Rahim, H. A., Mokhtar, N., & Othman, M. A. (2021). The Effects of Financial Literacy, Self-Efficacy, and Self-Coping on Financial Behavior of Emerging Adults. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(3), 905–915. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2021.vol8.no3.0905
  11. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, Second Edition. In Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (Second Edi). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.
  12. Cuandra, F. & Candy, C. (2024). Strategies and Innovations for Enhancing Sustainable Performance in SMEs During The 4.0 Digital Business Era. Jurnal Organisasi Dan Manajemen, 20(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.33830/jom.v20i1.6449.2024
  13. Elisan, G. B. R., Aquino, A. B., Niepes, J. O. & Magarao, Q. M. M. (2025). The Relationship Between Financial Self-Efficacy and Financial Behavior of College Students. Melas Journal of Education, 2(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.70847/587962
  14. Febriyanto, F., Pariyanti, E., Japlani, A. & Rinnanik, R. (2024). The Moderating Role of Islamic Financing Access in the Impact of Islamic Financial Knowledge and Financial Confidence on Financial Well-being among MSME Owners. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 15(2), 241–257. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v15i2.22164
  15. Fitrianingsih, D. & Mardiana, M. (2025). The Role of Education in Moderating the Effects of Income and Consumption on Financial Welfare among Agricultural Families. Golden Ratio of Finance Management, 5(2), 310–321. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v5i2.1134
  16. Gallego-Losada, M. J., Montero-Navarro, A., García-Abajo, E. & Gallego-Losada, R. (2023). Digital financial inclusion. Visualizing the academic literature. Research in International Business and Finance, 64(February 2022), 101862. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2022.101862
  17. Ghouse, S. M., Shekhar, R. & Chaudhary, M. (2025). Driving financial inclusion: exploring mobile wallet adoption among rural Omani millennials. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 16(4), 1229–1257. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-02-2024-0073
  18. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T., Ringle, C. & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) - Joseph F. Hair, Jr., G. Tomas M. Hult, Christian Ringle, Marko Sarstedt. In Sage.
  19. Hernandez-Perez, J. & Rambaud, S. C. (2025). Uncovering the factors of financial well-being: the role of self-control, self-efficacy, and financial hardship. Future Business Journal, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43093-025-00498-7
  20. Hesniati, H. & Limgestu, R. (2023). Determinants of Intention To Use Islamic Fintech During the COVID-19 Pandemic. EKUITAS (Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Keuangan), 7(4), 587–604. https://doi.org/10.24034/j25485024.y2023.v7.i4.5860
  21. Idris, H. (2025). Understanding Financial Inclusion Through Fintech : A Qualitative Inquiry into the Role of Technology in Shaping Financial Landscapes. Golden Ratio of Finance Management, 5(1), 260–269. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v5i1.1235
  22. Irimia-Diéguez, A., Albort-Morant, G., Oliver-Alfonso, M. D. & Ullah, S. (2024). Predicting the intention to use Paytech services by Islamic banking users. International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, 17(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-07-2022-0298
  23. Kang, H. (2021). Sample size determination and power analysis using the G*Power software. Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions, 18, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3352/JEEHP.2021.18.17
  24. Kanungo, R. P. & Gupta, S. (2021). Financial inclusion through digitalisation of services for well-being. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 167(March), 120721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120721
  25. Kartawinata, B. R., Fakhri, M., Pradana, M., Hanifan, N. F., & Akbar, A. (2021). The role of financial self-efficacy: mediating effects of financial literacy & financial inclusion of students in West Java, Indonesia. Journal of Management Information and Decision Sciences, 24(Special Issue 2), 1–9.
  26. Kuutol, P. K., Mbonigaba, J. & Garidzirai, R. (2024). Financial Literacy and Financial Well-Being in Rural Households in Ghana: The Role of Financial Information Consumption. Sustainability (Switzerland), 16(19), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16198380
  27. Lady, Lady, Shevia, S., Melsen, F., Purwianti, L. & Liu, C. (2025). Exploring Gen-Z Online Fashion Purchase Intention Using SOR Model: The Moderating Role of Gender. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 16(2), 372–394. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v16i2.25591
  28. Latan, H. & Ghozali, I. (2012). Partial least square: konsep, teknik, dan aplikasi smart pls 2.0 m3. Badan penerbit Universitas Diponegoro.
  29. Lee, J. M., Lee, J., & Kim, K. T. (2020). Consumer Financial Well-Being: Knowledge is Not Enough. Journal of Family and Economic Issues, 41(2), 218–228. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-019-09649-9
  30. Lone, U. M. & Bhat, S. A. (2024). Impact of financial literacy on financial well-being: a mediational role of financial self-efficacy. Journal of Financial Services Marketing, 29(1), 122–137. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41264-022-00183-8
  31. Lusardi, A. & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The Economic Importance of Financial Literacy: Theory and Evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5–44. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.1.5
  32. Mathew, V., Santhosh Kumar P K & Sanjeev M A. (2024). Financial Well-being and Its Psychological Determinants— An Emerging Country Perspective. FIIB Business Review, 13(1), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/23197145221121080
  33. Megananda, T. B. & Faturohman, T. (2022). Improving Financial Well-being in Indonesia: The Mediating Role of Financial Behavior. Review of Integrative Business and Economics Research, 11(4), 201–219.
  34. Munna, N. N., Widiastuti, A., & Riyoko, S. (2025). The Impact of Financial Technology on Employee Well-Being in PDAM Jepara : Mediating Roles of Financial Literacy and Lifestyle. Golden Ratio of Finance Management, 5(1), 239–251. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52970/grfm.v5i1.1099
  35. Nogueira, M. C., Almeida, L. & Tavares, F. O. (2025). Financial Literacy, Financial Knowledge, and Financial Behaviors in OECD Countries. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 18(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm18030167
  36. Noor, N., Batool, I. & Arshad, H. M. (2020). Financial literacy, financial self-efficacy, and financial account ownership behavior in Pakistan. Cogent Economics and Finance, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23322039.2020.1806479
  37. OECD. (2024). G20 policy note on financial well-being. In the G20 policy note on financial well-being. https://doi.org/10.1787/7332c99d-en
  38. OJK. (2022). Survei Nasional Literasi dan Inklusi. In Siaran Pers (pp. 1–3).
  39. Ozili, P. K. (2023). The Future of Financial Inclusion. https://doi.org/https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/118800/
  40. Radiman, Wahyuni, S. F., Putri, L. P., Damaiyanti, A. & Anugrahwati, D. P. (2025). Lecturers’ financial well-being: The role of religiosity, financial literacy, financial behavior, and financial stress with gender as a moderating variable. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 22(2), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.22(2).2025.02
  41. Raj, V. A., Jasrotia, S. S., & Rai, S. S. (2024). Intensifying materialism through examining the dark sides. International Journal of Bank Marketing, 42(1), 94–112. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJBM-08-2022-0343
  42. Rashid, S., Bilal, M., Hussain, A. & Shah, M. A. (2022). Impact of financial inclusion on financial well-being: Moderating effect of orientation towards finance. Journal of Economic Impact, 4(2), 124–133. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.52223/jei4022215
  43. Ratnawati, Rokhman, M. T. N. & Ningsih, A. A. T. (2025). The role of digital financial inclusion in improving financial literacy and financial well-being for business sustainability: Indonesian women’s export craft SMEs. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 23(2), 398–408. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(2).2025.28
  44. Saadah, K. & Setiawan, D. (2024). Determinants of fintech adoption: evidence from SMEs in Indonesia. LBS Journal of Management & Research, 22(1), 55–65. https://doi.org/10.1108/lbsjmr-11-2022-0076
  45. Sangeeta, Aggarwal, P. K. & Sangal, A. (2022). Determinants of Financial Literacy and its Influence on Financial Wellbeing — a Study of the Young Population in Haryana, India. Finance: Theory and Practice, 26(5), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.26794/2587-5671-2022-26-5-121-131
  46. Santoso, R. A., Vilantika, E., Soelistya, D. & Liu, Y. (2024). Locus of Control Mediates The Impact of Financial Knowledge, Attitudes, and Experience on Financial Behavior. Jurnal Manajemen Bisnis, 15(2), 406–418. https://doi.org/10.18196/mb.v15i2.23506
  47. Sekaran, U. & Bougie, R. (2016). Research Methods For Business: A Skill Building Approach, 7th Edition eBook: Uma Sekaran, Roger Bougie: Kindle Store (7th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  48. Świecka, B., Terefenko, P., Wiśniewski, T. & Xiao, J. (2021). Consumer financial knowledge and cashless payment behavior for sustainable development in poland. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(11), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116401
  49. Tan, T. L., Lu, M. P. & Kosim, Z. (2025). The mediating effect of digital financial inclusion on gender differences in digital financial literacy and financial well-being: Evidence from Malaysian households. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 22(1), 11–24. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.22(1).2025.02
  50. Tulcanaza-Prieto, A. B., Cortez-Ordoñez, A., Rivera, J. & Lee, C. W. (2025). Is Digital Literacy a Moderator Variable in the Relationship Between Financial Literacy, Financial Inclusion, and Financial Well-Being in the Ecuadorian Context? Sustainability (Switzerland), 17(6), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062476