Financial anxiety among Brazilian youth and the role of psychosocial and structural factors

Purpose This study examines the psychosocial and structural factors associated with financial anxiety among young adults residing in Brazil's Federal District, the country's capital region, highlighting how subjective financial perceptions and objective socioeconomic conditions jointly relate to financial anxiety in an underexplored Latin American context. Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 513 young adults in Brazil's Federal District through a structured questionnaire assessing financial anxiety, psychosocial perceptions, structural socioeconomic conditions, and banking-related characteristics. Multiple linear regression analysis with robust standard errors was employed to identify significant associations with financial anxiety. Findings The results indicate that financial anxiety is more strongly associated with psychosocial appraisal than with objective structural conditions alone. Financial satisfaction emerged as the strongest negative correlate of financial anxiety. Among the structural factors, higher levels of financial anxiety were associated with being a woman, lower household income, exposure to housing-related financial obligations, and greater banking complexity, measured by the number of bank accounts managed. Research limitations/implications The cross-sectional design does not allow causal inferences, and the focus on the Federal District limits the generalizability of the findings. Future studies may examine other regions of Brazil and explore intersectional dynamics involving gender, race, income, and housing. Practical implications The findings indicate that financial education initiatives and youth-oriented financial services may benefit from addressing both psychosocial perceptions and structural constraints, while simplifying financial management experiences that may increase cognitive burden among young consumers. Social implications The results highlight the importance of integrated approaches linking individual financial perceptions and structural conditions to promote financial well-being and social inclusion among young people. Originality/value This study advances financial anxiety literature by integrating psychosocial appraisal, structural constraints, and banking complexity within a single analytical framework. By providing evidence from an underexplored Latin American context, the findings broaden current understanding of how financial anxiety relates not only to economic conditions but also to subjective perceptions and interactions with financial services among young consumers.