CRAFTING INVESTMENT AWARENESS AMONG YOUTH: A STUDY OF MODERATED INFLUENCES ON BEHAVIORAL DYNAMICS

This study examines the factors that influence young people's investment awareness with a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach based on Partial Least Squares (PLS) and the foundation of Behavioral Finance Theory. Financial literacy, spending patterns, and saving behavior are analyzed as independent variables, with self-control as a moderating variable. Data were obtained through an online survey of undergraduate students at several universities in Surakarta. The results of the SmartPLS analysis show that financial literacy, spending patterns, and saving behavior have a positive and significant effect on investment awareness. Self-control is also shown to moderate the relationship, where individuals with higher self-control tend to have better investment awareness. The findings confirm the importance of financial education and strengthening self-control in improving young people's investment readiness. The implications of this study include recommendations for policymakers and educational institutions to develop comprehensive financial literacy programs.