A multiple moderation analysis of financial management orientation and rational purchasing: The roles of gender and credit card ownership
Borsa Istanbul Review, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.1016/j.bir.2026.100848
- Journal Name: Borsa Istanbul Review
- Journal Indexes: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, EconLit, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Keywords: Cognitive purchase theory, Financial management orientation, Rational purchasing behavior
- Anadolu University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
Drawing on cognitive purchase theory and mental accounting, this study examines whether gender and credit card ownership moderate the relationship between financial management orientation (FMO) and rational purchasing behavior. Using cross-sectional data from 323 undergraduate students in Türkiye, we tested an additive multiple moderation model. The findings indicate that FMO is positively associated with rational purchasing, suggesting that stronger financial management tendencies support deliberate and reasoned purchase decisions. However, this relationship varies by gender and credit card ownership. Specifically, the positive association between FMO and rational purchasing is stronger among men than among women, whereas it is weaker among individuals who own a credit card. These results suggest that the link between financial management tendencies and rational purchasing is conditional rather than straightforward. Overall, the study highlights the role of contemporary payment technologies in shaping how individuals translate financial management orientation into rational purchasing behavior.