Theepa Cappelli
About
My research project
Improving financial management in university students using behaviour change theoryI intend to use various approaches to understand university students' financial literacy, decision-making, and financial behaviour. Based on the findings, I plan to develop a theory and evidence-based resources to improve these students' financial literacy, financial management, and financial behaviours, as well as develop intervention and treatment programs.
Supervisors
I intend to use various approaches to understand university students' financial literacy, decision-making, and financial behaviour. Based on the findings, I plan to develop a theory and evidence-based resources to improve these students' financial literacy, financial management, and financial behaviours, as well as develop intervention and treatment programs.
My qualifications
Affiliations and memberships
ResearchResearch interests
I have been active in the financial world for over 20 years focusing on financial planning, raising capital, financial controls, and group restructuring. I became interested in behaviour change psychology and how this could improve financial behaviour on an individual level after many years of focusing on how to manage capital best and grow wealth on a corporate level by changing the views and optimising the business's strategy as a whole to achieve it.
Research interests
I have been active in the financial world for over 20 years focusing on financial planning, raising capital, financial controls, and group restructuring. I became interested in behaviour change psychology and how this could improve financial behaviour on an individual level after many years of focusing on how to manage capital best and grow wealth on a corporate level by changing the views and optimising the business's strategy as a whole to achieve it.
Publications
BackgroundUniversity students typically face acute financial pressure, which can adversely impact mental health, wellbeing, and academic outcomes. This scoping review of qualitative and quantitative studies aimed to identify distinct money-management behaviours, and psychological determinants, to inform future interventions.MethodsTwo electronic databases were searched for observational studies focusing on money-management behaviours and their correlates (in quantitative studies) or reflections on experiences of such behaviours (qualitative studies). Of 789 unique papers identified, 12 papers, reporting 10 distinct studies (six quantitative, two qualitative, two mixed-methods), were entered into review. We inductively categorised all behaviours and psychological correlates, and narratively synthesised findings.ResultsWe documented 15 distinct money-management behaviours, which fitted five higher-order categories: budgeting, saving (i.e., building funds), spending, borrowing, and settling debts. Twenty-two distinct potential correlates were observed, which fitted six categories: personality characteristics, financial beliefs and knowledge, attitudes, affective responses, self-efficacy and control, and social influences. Financial beliefs and knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and control, and social support from parents and peers were generally associated with ‘better’ money management practices.ConclusionHeterogeneity in behaviours and correlates studied precluded definitive conclusions. Future studies should more comprehensively adopt theories and concepts from behavioural science, to distinguish between different money-management behaviours, identify which behaviours have most impact on students, and establish which specific determinants are most related to which money-management behaviours.nd