| The impact of parental and social influences on the credit card practices of undergraduate students at a land grant university in the Midwest were considered in the context of Social Learning Theory. Four hundred twenty one undergraduate students were surveyed. The percentage of undergraduate students owning a credit card was half of the national average. Of the 173 survey participants who did own a credit card, the number of cards held per student was one-third the national average, and the self reported credit card balance was less than one-tenth the national average. No significant relationship was found between observation of parent(s)/guardian(s) using credit cards and credit card ownership, observation of parent(s)/guardian(s) having credit problems and irresponsible credit card use, or utilizing social networks and responsible credit card use. Implications for future research include investigating why students at this Midwestern university are so different in their credit card ownership, number of cards per student, and credit card balance than the national average. This could be used to create strategies for helping others use credit cards more responsibly. |
