Educação financeira e o nível de endividamento de acadêmicos do IFPE campus Igarassu

Abstract

This research investigates the influence of financial education on preventing youth debt, focused on students at IFPE Campus Igarassu. The objective is to understand how financial knowledge impacts consumption habits and debts among young people. The qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach involved students aged 15 to 29, selected through intentional sampling. Data collection was carried out using a structured questionnaire with 24 questions, administered in person via Google Forms to 109 students, and semi-structured focus group interviews with 9 students, carried out remotely via Zoom. Interview data was analyzed using thematic content analysis, identifying relevant patterns. The results reveal a relationship between financial literacy and indebtedness, indicating that students with greater financial knowledge have better control over their finances and are less prone to debt. Additionally, participants with conservative attitudes toward credit reported less debt. The findings highlight the importance of financial education in preventing youth debt and suggest the implementation of mandatory programs in educational institutions to improve financial literacy and promote responsible consumption behaviors.