SAVING BEHAVIOR OF NAKHON SI THAMMARAT RAJABHAT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) examine the saving behavior of students at Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University (NSTRU) and 2) analyze the influence of personal and basic economic factors on this behavior. A quantitative research approach was employed, with data collected from a sample of 387 NSTRU students selected through simple random sampling. An online questionnaire served as the research instrument. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferential statistics (One-way ANOVA). The findings indicated the following: 1) the majority of respondents were female, aged 20-21, and in their fourth year of study. The most common parental occupation was farming, and most students reported that their parents were living together. The largest proportion of students had both monthly incomes and expenses in the 3,001-5,000 baht range. The most common monthly saving amount was less than 3,000 baht, followed by the 3,001-5,000 baht range. Students identified themselves as the primary influence on their saving habits. Overall saving behavior was rated at a moderate level. The main purposes for saving were for family emergencies, health expenses, and educational costs. 2) The comparison of factors revealed that personal variables such as gender, age, and grade level did not have a significant effect on saving behavior. However, economic factors, specifically savings frequency and average income, were found to significantly affect students' saving behavior.