Expenditure patterns of Thai adolescent

Abstract

This study covered the expenditure patterns of Thai adolescents in relation to their gender, age-range (early and late adolescents), and source of income. Furthermore, the study also aimed to research factors influencing Thai adolescents’ expenditure by considering associated family, social or cultural criteria, coupled with the personal characteristics of the target group. The targeted population segment of the study was adolescents aged from 14 – 22 years who were studying in metropolitan Bangkok (excluding surrounding areas). The sampling frame was based on data from 2005 supplied by the Ministry of Education. By using a two-stage stratified sampling method it resulted in 800 samples, 400 of which were male adolescents (150 early adolescents and 250 late adolescents) and 400 female adolescents (193 early adolescents and 207 late adolescents). They liked purchasing 19 different types of products or consumer items which were categorized by means of factor analysis and resulted in the classification into six components: (1) grooming supplies; (2) recreational goods; (3) gift-giving and donation; (4) luxury goods; (5) goods deemed as daily necessities; (6) educationrelated products. The adolescents’ expenditure was significantly different between genders, age-ranges, and income sources. Male adolescents’ expenditures were averaging approximately 5,867 baht per month, which was higher than those of their female counterparts who were averaging approximately 4,788 baht per month, based on spending on recreational, luxury and daily necessity goods. When considering each type of item it was found that male adolescents spent more than females on visits to the cinema, sporting equipment, multimedia equipment, entertainment centers, tourist attractions, residential rent and daily food. On the other hand, female adolescents spent more than males on cosmetics, cosmetic treatment in beauty salons, and giftgiving to friends. The products where both of them did not show significantly different expenditure were clothing and personal ornamental items, shoes, concert attendance, gift-giving to parents, donations, mobile phones, the internet service, books for entertainment, transport to educational institutes, textbooks and educational equipment. These goods reflected the Thai adolescents’ interests and preferences. Early adolescents had average total expenditures of 3,529 baht per month, less than the group of late adolescents which averaged 5,328 baht per month. The former spent less on each item category, except recreational goods. When considering each type of product it was found that early adolescents spent more than late adolescents on concert attendances, watching movies, sports, multi-media, gift-giving to parents, mobile phones, the internet and books for recreational reading. Regarding the monetary allocation for purchases, it was found that Thai adolescents allocated the highest amount for goods considered daily necessities, followed by school suppliers, grooming items, luxury goods, gift-giving and donations, and recreational goods respectively. Factors influencing adolescents’ total expenditure were the adolescent’s personal characteristics, educational criteria, their incomes, the money available from credit card(s) (if available) and the individual’s family income. Other factors did not have any significant influence on their total expenditure. In the future there will exist a proportionally more dependent population. Therefore today’s adolescents should be prepared in advance for those conditions. In order to achieve this aim it is absolutely necessary that family and educational institutions, along with state agencies, cooperate to teach, train, and develop the adolescents’ awareness of how to spend and create savings properly and in accordance with their incomes and to display proper purchasing behavior.