Relationships Among Emotion Regulation, Financial Self-Efficacy, and Financial Management Behaviors of Couples

This study examines the relationships among emotion regulation, financial self-efficacy, and couples’ financial management behaviors using the baseline data from 239 heterosexual couples (478 individuals) enrolled in a community-based relationship and financial education program. Structural Equation Modeling was used to test an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model that examined both the individual and partner effects of emotion regulation on financial management behaviors mediated by financial self-efficacy. For both partners, there were significant effects of emotion regulation on financial self-efficacy and significant effects of financial self-efficacy on financial management. There was a significant positive, indirect association of emotion regulation with her overall financial management behaviors for female partners. There was a significant partner effect from males’ financial self-efficacy on female partners’ financial management behaviors. Implications for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are discussed.