Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Retain Credit Counseling Clients

Abstract

This study applied the theory of planned behavior to examine factors associated with the intention and behavior of staying in debt management plans (DMP) using data collected from a sample of clients of a national credit counseling agency. The findings of this study suggest that the behavioral intention is positively associated with the attitude toward the behavior, perceived control, satisfaction with the service, and debt-reducing behavior; at the same time, behavioral intention is negatively associated with other financial behaviors. The behavior of staying in a DMP is positively associated with the behavioral intention and perceived control.

Keywords: credit counseling, debt management plan, theory of planned behavior