Beyond the Balance Sheet: Navigating Financial Anxiety, Digital Change, and Resilience Among Working Women in Thailand

The intersection of financial literacy, digital financial services adoption, and financial well-being has emerged as a critical area of inquiry, particularly among working women in developing economies facing rapid digital transformation and economic uncertainty. This qualitative study explores the complex relationships between financial literacy, financial anxiety, digital financial services adoption, savings behavior, financial planning, ESG investment awareness, financial resilience, and overall financial well-being among 35 working women in Thailand. Through semi-structured in-depth interviews and thematic analysis, this research reveals four major themes: (1) multidimensional financial knowledge and digital literacy acquisition pathways; (2) emotional dimensions of financial anxiety and stress management; (3) adaptive planning and savings behaviors in response to economic volatility; and (4) resilience-building strategies through diversified financial engagement. The findings demonstrate that financial well-being extends beyond objective financial metrics to encompass subjective perceptions of security, autonomy, and future preparedness. Participants exhibited varying levels of financial literacy, with digital financial services adoption emerging as both an enabler of financial inclusion and a source of anxiety for those with limited digital proficiency. The study reveals that women employ multifaceted coping mechanisms to navigate financial uncertainty, including peer learning, incremental savings approaches, and selective engagement with emerging investment opportunities such as ESG-aligned products. Economic uncertainty significantly moderates the relationship between financial knowledge and well-being, while digital literacy serves as a crucial facilitator of financial service utilization. These insights contribute to theoretical understanding of gendered financial behavior in emerging markets and offer practical implications for policymakers, financial educators, and service providers seeking to enhance financial inclusion and economic empowerment among working women in Thailand and similar contexts.