Exploring the Moderating Role of Technological Self-Efficacy on Fintech Adoption and Digital Financial Inclusion among Women in Marginalized Communities in Uganda

Exploring the Moderating Role of Technological Self-Efficacy on Fintech Adoption and Digital Financial Inclusion among Women in Marginalized Communities in Uganda | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Exploring the Moderating Role of Technological Self-Efficacy on Fintech Adoption and Digital Financial Inclusion among Women in Marginalized Communities in Uganda Elemegious Mugamba This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Digital Financial Inclusion (DFI) represents a pivotal pathway for socio-economic empowerment, yet rural women in Uganda remain disproportionately excluded from its transformative potential. This empirical study investigates the moderating role of Technological Self-Efficacy (TSE) on the nexus between Fintech adoption and DFI among women in marginalized communities. Drawing on data from 384 women entrepreneurs operating in the selected refugee resettlement camps of Bidibidi, Rwamwanja and Rhino in Uganda, the study employs a quantitative, cross-sectional design underpinned by hierarchical regression modelling and Hayes’ PROCESS Macro v4.0 to test moderation effects. Findings reveal that both Fintech usage and TSE exhibit statistically significant positive effects on DFI. Critically, TSE strengthens the impact of Fintech engagement on financial inclusion, suggesting that women with higher self-efficacy derive amplified financial benefits from digital platforms. This insight illuminates the non-linear dynamics between digital access and financial empowerment, emphasizing that digital literacy and confidence are not auxiliary factors but core enablers of inclusive fintech ecosystems. This study advances theoretical discourse by integrating behavioural dimensions into Fintech-DFI frameworks and provides actionable recommendations: policymakers and financial service providers must co-design localized digital literacy interventions, embed inclusive user-interface designs, and develop context-aware on-boarding strategies to foster TSE and scale meaningful adoption. The research addresses critical gaps in gendered digital finance literature and offers a replicable model for emerging economies confronting structural exclusion. While limited by its cross-sectional scope and geographical specificity, the study establishes a foundational base for longitudinal and cross-cultural fintech research. The implications are profound for policy, financial innovation, and global development agendas, positioning Uganda as a strategic lens for analysing DFI in digitally transitioning economies. Finance Women's studies Gender Studies Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Social Policy Development Economics Banking Law Entrepreneurship Digital Financial Inclusion Fintech Adoption Technological Self-Efficacy Women Empowerment Financial Technology Marginalized Communities Uganda Behavioural Finance Financial Inclusion Policy Inclusive Innovation Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7388845","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":501325751,"identity":"6a12c1f1-e4d8-4f8e-8ca4-c6374a32c922","order_by":0,"name":"Elemegious Mugamba","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAx0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgYGBn4GBjYStUg2kKzF4ACxWnRnpF/8dHOHnZzxjeRnDz5UMMjzix3Ar8XsRk6xdO6ZZGOzG2nmhjPOMBjOnJ1AUEuCdG4bc+K2Gwlm0rxtDAkGtwlrSf6d21Zfv3lG+jditaQfA9pyOMFAIodYW868YbPOPXMc6I03ZZIzzkgQ4Zfj6Y9v5+6oludvT98m8aHCRp5fmoAWBgYeAwgtAFYpQUg5CLA/gND8B4hRPQpGwSgYBSMRAADzzUYbFo97agAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0262-4098","institution":"Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Elemegious","middleName":"","lastName":"Mugamba","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-08-16 17:12:56","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":true,"vertebrateSubjects":false,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true,"humanSubjectConsent":true,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":89340121,"identity":"2ab7a450-b164-424c-af6f-1b3cac3c2518","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-08-19 03:15:02","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":719135,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"MugambaE.2024.ExploringtheModeratingRoleofTechnologicalSelfEfficacyonFintechAdoptionandDigitalFinancialInclusionamongWomeninMarginalizedCommunitiesinUganda.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7388845/v1_covered_50e78d5d-4a91-4474-bf42-8ba8739ab405.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eExploring the Moderating Role of Technological Self-Efficacy on Fintech Adoption and Digital Financial Inclusion among Women in Marginalized Communities in Uganda\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Uganda Institute of Banking and Financial Services","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Digital Financial Inclusion, Fintech Adoption, Technological Self-Efficacy, Women Empowerment, Financial Technology, Marginalized Communities, Uganda, Behavioural Finance, Financial Inclusion Policy, Inclusive Innovation","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eDigital Financial Inclusion (DFI) represents a pivotal pathway for socio-economic empowerment, yet rural women in Uganda remain \u0026nbsp;disproportionately excluded from its transformative potential. This empirical study investigates the moderating role of Technological \u0026nbsp;Self-Efficacy (TSE) on the nexus between Fintech adoption and DFI among women in marginalized communities. Drawing on data \u0026nbsp;from 384 women entrepreneurs operating in the selected refugee resettlement camps of Bidibidi, Rwamwanja and Rhino in Uganda, \u0026nbsp;the study employs a quantitative, cross-sectional design underpinned by hierarchical regression modelling and Hayes’ PROCESS \u0026nbsp;Macro v4.0 to test moderation effects. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFindings reveal that both Fintech usage and TSE exhibit statistically significant positive effects on DFI. Critically, TSE strengthens the \u0026nbsp;impact of Fintech engagement on financial inclusion, suggesting that women with higher self-efficacy derive amplified financial \u0026nbsp;benefits from digital platforms. This insight illuminates the non-linear dynamics between digital access and financial empowerment, \u0026nbsp;emphasizing that digital literacy and confidence are not auxiliary factors but core enablers of inclusive fintech ecosystems. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study advances theoretical discourse by integrating behavioural dimensions into Fintech-DFI frameworks and provides actionable \u0026nbsp;recommendations: policymakers and financial service providers must co-design localized digital literacy interventions, embed \u0026nbsp;inclusive user-interface designs, and develop context-aware on-boarding strategies to foster TSE and scale meaningful adoption. The \u0026nbsp;research addresses critical gaps in gendered digital finance literature and offers a replicable model for emerging economies confronting \u0026nbsp;structural exclusion. \u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile limited by its cross-sectional scope and geographical specificity, the study establishes a foundational base for longitudinal and \u0026nbsp;cross-cultural fintech research. The implications are profound for policy, financial innovation, and global development agendas, \u0026nbsp;positioning Uganda as a strategic lens for analysing DFI in digitally transitioning economies. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Exploring the Moderating Role of Technological Self-Efficacy on Fintech Adoption and Digital Financial Inclusion among Women in Marginalized Communities in Uganda","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-08-19 03:06:55","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7388845/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e9ce4178-3ee8-4b8d-9ad5-67336da912ab","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 19th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":53250987,"name":"Finance"},{"id":53250988,"name":"Women's studies"},{"id":53250989,"name":"Gender Studies"},{"id":53250990,"name":"Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning"},{"id":53250991,"name":"Social Policy"},{"id":53250992,"name":"Development Economics"},{"id":53250993,"name":"Banking Law"},{"id":53250994,"name":"Entrepreneurship"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-19T03:06:55+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-08-19 03:06:55","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-7388845","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-7388845","identity":"rs-7388845","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}