Financial perceptions and financial behaviors across marital status and gender

This study examined associations between financial perceptions and financial behaviors among four marital/gender groups (e.g., married men, married women, single men, and single women). Descriptive results show significant differences in financial perceptions and financial behaviors across the groups. Specifically, single women reported significantly higher levels of perceived dissatisfaction and too much debt than the other three groups. Using OLS regression analysis, we found that compared to single women, married men, married women, and single men practiced higher levels of healthy financial behaviors. This study informs that financial education programs should be effective across marital and gender groups.