Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41965867›Full record

ArticleBMC psychology2026

Financial literacy and psychological vulnerability to financial exploitation: the roles of financial anxiety, self-confidence, and behavior.

Alper Veli Çam, Şafak Sönmez Soydaş, Adem Özbek, Handan Çam

Abstract read
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Article in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Alper Veli ÇamDepartment of Health Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Baglarbasi District Gumushane University, 29100, Gumushane, Türkiye. alpercam@gumushane.edu.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6078-5186
Şafak Sönmez SoydaşDepartment of Property Protection and Security, Baglarbasi District Gumushane University, Irfan Can Köse Vocational School of Higher Education, 29100, Gumushane, Türkiye.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7174-8652
Adem ÖzbekDepartment of Management and Organization, School of Social Sciences, Baglarbasi District Gumushane University, 29100, Gumushane, Türkiye.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6599-6337
Handan ÇamDepartment of Management Information Systems, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Gümüşhane University, Baglarbasi District, 29100, Gumushane, Türkiye.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0982-2919

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFinancial exploitation constitutes a significant psychological vulnerability shaped by cognitive resources, emotional regulation, and financial decision-making behaviors. While financial literacy is widely recognized as a protective factor, limited empirical evidence disentangles the distinct psychological roles of financial knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in reducing vulnerability to financial exploitation.

methodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed survey data from 565 adults in Türkiye. Financial literacy was conceptualized as a multidimensional construct comprising financial knowledge, financial attitude, and financial behavior. Vulnerability to financial exploitation was assessed through three psychosocial indicators: self-confidence, financial anxiety, and financial satisfaction. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships among cognitive, behavioral, and emotional components.

resultsFinancial knowledge was significantly associated with lower financial anxiety and higher financial satisfaction but showed no direct effect on self-confidence. Financial behavior emerged as the most robust protective factor, significantly enhancing self-confidence and financial satisfaction while substantially reducing financial anxiety. Financial attitude was positively related to financial satisfaction but did not significantly influence anxiety or self-confidence. Financial anxiety demonstrated a strong negative association with both self-confidence and financial satisfaction.

conclusionsFinancial exploitation vulnerability is driven by interconnected psychological mechanisms rather than cognitive factors alone. The findings highlight the central role of behavior-based financial competencies and emotional regulation in strengthening financial resilience. Interventions aimed at preventing financial exploitation should prioritize behavioral skill development and psychological risk screening alongside traditional financial education approaches.

Indexed as

AnxietyLiteracyPersonal SatisfactionSelf ConceptAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesDecision MakingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedYoung AdultFinancial anxietyFinancial behaviorFinancial literacyPsychological vulnerabilitySelf-confidenceStructural equation modeling

Identifiers

PMID41965867
PMCPMC13267386

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.