Impact of Behavioral Factors on Stock Market Investment Decisions among Young Investors in Biratnagar
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v7i1.93077Keywords:
behavioral aspects, investment decision, young investors, overconfidence bias, financial literacyAbstract
The study analyzes the impact of behavioral factors on stock market investment decisions among young investors in Biratnagar. The study examines the relationship between the behavioral factors (anchoring bias, risk propensity, herding behaviour, overconfidence bias), financial literacy and investment decision. The study was based on quantitative research design which used descriptive and explanatory research based on primary data collected among the young investors of stock market. The sample size of study compromised 200 respondents, the data were collected through the survey using the Google Form. The data analysis was performed with use of IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software. The data analysis consisted of demographic analysis, descriptive analysis, reliability tests, correlation analysis and regression analysis. The result of the study shows minimum threshold of reliability for each variable and overall reliability was maintained i.e. greater than 0.70. The study shows a positive relationship among overconfidence bias (β = 0.332, p < 0.001), financial literacy (β = 0.320, p < 0.001), and anchoring bias (β = 0.157, p < 0.05) with investment decision. But in contrast risk propensity (β = −0.011, p > 0.05) and herding behavior (β = 0.060, p > 0.05) shows statistically insignificant relationship with investment decision. The study suggests the young investors are more concerned with cognitive and informational factors making investment decision.
Downloads
References
1. Adhikari, M., Bhusal, S., Adhikari, S., & Sharma, P. (2025). Evaluation of behavioral factors influencing investors’ investment decisions in Nepal stock exchange (NEPSE). International Journal of Social Sciences and Management, 12(2), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijssm.v12i2.77493
2. Ahn, K., Cong, L., Jang, H., & Kim, D. S. (2024). Business cycle and herding behavior in stock. Financial Innovation, 10(6), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40854-023-00540-z
3. Amgain, P. N., Khatiwada, S. K., & Dhungana, B. R. (2025). The impact of behavioral biases on investment decisions among Nepalese investors. Dristikon: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 15(1), 137–154. https://doi.org/10.3126/dristikon.v15i1.77134
4. Banerjee, A. V. (1992). A simple model of herd behavior. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 107(3), 797-817. https://doi.org/10.2307/2118364
5. Bem, D. J. (1972). Self-perception theory. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 6, 1-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(08)60024-6
6. Bhutto, S. A., Nazeer, N., Saad, M., & Talreja, K. (2025). Herding behavior, disposition effect, and investment decisions: A multi-mediation analysis of risk perception and dividend policy. Acta Psychologica, 255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.104964
7. Bikhchandani, S., Hirshleifer, D., & Welch, I. (1992). A theory of fads, fashion, custom, and cultural change as informational cascades. The Journal of Political Economy, 100(5), 992-1026. https://doi.org/10.1086/261849
8. Cialdini, R. B., & Goldstein, N. J. (2004). Social influence: Compliance and conformity. Annual Review of Psychology, 55(1), 591-621. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142015
9. Das, T. K., & Teng, B.-S. (2001). Strategic risk behaviour and its temporalities: between risk propensity and decision context. Journal of Management Studies, 38(4), 515-534. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00247
10. Dewan, P., & Dharni, K. (2019). Herding behaviour in investment decision making: A review. Journal of Economics, Management and Trade, 24(2), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.9734/jemt/2019/v24i230160
11. Dhakal, S., & Lamsal, R. (2023). Impact of cognitive biases on investment decisions of investors in Nepal. The Lumbini Journal of Business and Economics, 11(1), 35-48. https://doi.org/10.3126/ljbe.v11i1.54315
12. Dhungana, B. R., Bhandari, S., Ojha, D., & Sharma, L. K. (2022). Effect of cognitive biases on investment decision making: A case of Pokhara Valley, Nepal. Quest Journal of Management and Social Sciences, 4(1), 71-84. https://doi.org/10.3126/qjmss.v4i1.45868
13. Dittrich, D. A., Guth, W., & Maciejovsky, B. (2005). Overconfidence in investment decisions: An experimental approach. The European Journal of Finance, 11(6), 471-491. https://doi.org/10.1080/1351847042000255643
14. Fama, E. F. (1970). Efficient capital markets: A review of theory and empirical work. The Journal of Finance, 25(2), 383-417. https://doi.org/10.2307/2325486
15. Fisher, I. (1930). The theory of interest. MacMillan Company.
16. Gedamkar, P. R., Kumar, V., Prabhu, J., Kumar, S., & Tripathi, A. (2025). Financial literacy and investment decisions: A micro-level Evidence-based study. The International Tax Journal, 52(6), 3934-3944. Retrieved from https://internationaltaxjournal.online/index.php/itj/article/view/385
17. Gurung, R., Dahal, R. K., Ghimire, B., & Koirala, N. (2024). Unraveling behavioral biases in decision making: A study of Nepalese investors. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 21(1), 25-37. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.21(1).2024.03
18. Hassan, N. C., Abdul-Rahman, A., Amin, S. I., & Hamid, S. N. (2023). Investment intention and decision making: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. Sustainability, 15(5), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053949
19. Indrawatia, N. K., Muljaningsih, S., Juwitaa, H. A., Jazulia, A., Nurmasaria, N. D., & Fahlevi, M. (2024). The mediator role of risk tolerance and risk perception in therelationship between financial literacy and financing decision. Cogent Business & Management, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2025.2468877
20. Islama, K. U., Bhat, S. A., Lone, U. M., Darzi, M. A., & Malikc, I. A. (2024). Financial risk propensity and investment decisions: An empirical analysis using behavioural biases. IIMB Management Review, 36(4), 213–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iimb.2024.06.004
21. Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263-292. https://doi.org/10.2307/1914185
22. Kengatharan, L., & Kengatharan, N. (2014). The influence of behavioral factors in making investment decisions and performance: Study on investors of Colombo stock exchange, Sri Lanka. Asian Journal of Finance & Accounting, 6(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.5296/ajfa.v6i1.4893
23. Koirala, K. B., & Niraula, G. P. (2025). The moderating role of financial literacy between herding behavior and investment decisions in Nepalese mutual funds. Nepal Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 8(4), 139-160. https://doi.org/10.3126/njmr.v8i1.76481
24. Lama, P. B., Subedi, R., Niroula, A. K., Pant, G. D., & Khatri, S. (2025). Behavioral factors driving stock market investment decisions among individuals in Nepal. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 22(1), 122-133. https://doi.org/10.21511/imfi.22(1).2025.10
25. Lestari, I. P., Ginanjar, W., & Warokka, A. (2021). Multidimensional risk and religiosity towards Indonesian Muslims’ sharia investment decision. Journal of Islamic Monetary Economics and Finance, 7(2), 369-400. https://doi.org/10.21098/jimf.v7i2.1321
26. Lusardi, A., & Messy, F.-A. (2023). The importance of financial literacy and its impact on financial wellbeing. Journal of Financial Literacy and Wellbeing, 1(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1017/flw.2023.8
27. Lusardi, A., & Mitchell, O. S. (2014). The economic importance of financial literacy: Theory and evidence. Journal of Economic Literature, 52(1), 5-44. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.52.1.5
28. Madaan, G., & Singh, S. (2019). An analysis of behavioral biases in investment decision-making. International Journal of Financial Research, 10(4), 55–67. https://doi.org/10.5430/ijfr.v10n4p55
29. Markowitz, H. M. (1952). Portfolio selection. The Journal of Finance, 7(1), 77-91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6261.1952.tb01525.x
30. Mer, P., & Vishwakarma, P. (2024). The impact of heuristics bias on investment decision. Journal of Commerce and Accounting Research, 139(3), 60-71. https://doi.org/10.21863/jcar/2024.13.3.007
31. Nasrin, K. (2025). Financial literacy and its effect on investment decisions: A review of recent literature. Business and Social Sciences, 3(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.25163/business.3110268
32. Neumann, J. v., & Morgenstern, O. (2004). Theory of Games and Economic Behavior. Princeton University Press.
33. Paudel, S. R., & Shakya, P. (2025). Heuristics biases and investment decisions: The mediating role of financial literacy in the Nepalese stock market. Journal of Emerging Management Studies, 3(1), 66-87. https://doi.org/10.3126/jems.v3i1.78637
34. Pikulina, E., Renneboog, L., & Tobler, P. N. (2017). Overconfidence and investment decisions: An experimental approach. Journal of Corporate Finance, 43, 175-192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2017.01.002
35. Poudel, U., & Poudel, R. L. (2024). Impact of behavioral biases on investment decisions among millennial investors in Pokhara. Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 13(1), 220-241. https://doi.org/10.3126/jjis.v13i1.75585
36. Rana, B. (2024). Impact of herding behavior on investment decisions in the Nepalese stock market with mediation and moderation effects. International Research Journal of MMC, 5(2), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.3126/irjmmc.v5i2.67829
37. Rana, M. (2024). Impact of financial literacy on investment decisions of retail investors in the Nepalese stock market: A structural equation modeling approach. OCEM Journal of Management, Technology & Social Sciences, 3(2), 25-36. https://doi.org/10.3126/ocemjmtss.v3i2.67857
38. Rehman, M. A., & Ahmad, M. (2025). Behavioral finance and market inefficiencies: Analyzing the influence of investor psychology, heuristics, and biases on stock market anomalies and investment decision-making. Advance Journal of Econometrics and Finance, 3(2), 54-67. https://doi.org/10.63075/x6nbkg69
39. Risal, N., & Khatiwada, N. (2019). Herding behavior in Nepali stock market: Empirical evidences based on investors from NEPSE. NCC Journal, 4(1), 131-140. https://doi.org/10.3126/nccj.v4i1.24746
40. Rooij, M. v., Lusardi, A., & Alessie, R. (2011). Financial literacy and stock market participation. Journal of Financial Economics, 101(2), 449-472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2011.03.006
41. Sapkota, M. P. (2022). Behavioural finance and stock investment decisions. Saptagandaki Journal, 13(1), 70-84. https://doi.org/10.3126/sj.v13i1.54947
42. Sharma, D. R., Adhikari, M., & Khatun, I. (2024). Behavioral biases of individual investors' decision-making in emerging markets: A mediation approach. Journal of Emerging Management Studies, 2(2), 37-54. https://doi.org/10.3126/jems.v2i2.74499
43. Shiller, R. J. (2003). From efficient markets theory to behavioral finance. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17(1), 83-104. https://doi.org/10.1257/089533003321164967
44. Silwal, S., & Ghimire, P. (2025). Behavioral factors and risk perception affecting investment decision in the context of Nepal. The Batuk, 11(1), 55-77. https://doi.org/10.3126/batuk.v11i2.82367
45. Sitaula, P., & Uprety, P. (2024). The influence of risk propensity and psychological factors on investment decisions. Journal of Business and Social Sciences Research, 9(2), 35-58. https://doi.org/10.3126/jbssr.v9i2.72408
46. Solihat, A., Nugraha, Disman, & Waspada, I. (2025). The mediating role of risk perception in the relationship between risk propensity and investment decisions among millennials in Indonesia. Scientific Journal of Management, 15(3), 730-742. https://doi.org/10.22441/jurnal_mix.2025.v15i3.004
47. Subedi, D. P. (2023). Financial literacy and investment decisions in Nepalese share market. Management Dynamics, 26(1), 11-20. https://doi.org/10.3126/md.v26i1.59147
48. Sumantri, M. B., Susanti, N., & Yanida, P. (2024). Effect of representativeness bias, availability bias and anchoring bias on investment decisions. Economics and Business Quarterly Reviews, 7(2), 199-206. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1992.07.02.586
49. Sunarko, C., & Sutrisno, S. (2025). The effect of financial literacy, financial self-efficacy, financial technology literacy, and risk perception on stock investment decisions: Millennials preferences. Asian Management and Business Review, 5(1), 19-34. https://doi.org/10.20885/AMBR.vol5.iss1.art2
50. Thapa, B. K. (2024). Cognitive biases on investment decisions in the Nepalese stock market. Journal of Nepalese Business Studies, 17(1), 182-193. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnbs.v17i1.75316
51. Tharu, A. (2025). Effect of psychological factors on investor’s decision making in Nepalese stock market. EPRA International Journal of Economics, Business and Management Studies, 12(1), 179-191. https://doi.org/10.36713/epra19849
52. Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty: Heuristics and biases. American Association for the Advancement of Science, 185(4157), 1124-1131. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.185.4157.1124
53. Uddin, M., Ali, M. A., Alhumoudi, H., Habib, S., Vivek, V., & Khan, M. A. (2024). The effect of financial literacy on investment decision making in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: An empirical study. Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development, 8(10), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i10.6732
54. Uprety, P. (2025). Impact of financial literacy and cognitive biases on individual investment decisions in Nepalese stock market. Journal of Business and Social Sciences Research, 10(1), 29-47. https://doi.org/10.3126/jbssr.v10i1.80280
55. Wamae, K. C., & Nasieku, T. (2024). Behavioral biases and investment decisions: An empirical review. International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research , 2(3), 324-331. https://doi.org/10.61108/ijsshr.v2i3.144
56. Zhao, Y. (2025). Anchoring bias: The power of first impression on economic. Advances in Economics Management and Political Sciences, 187(1), 100-106. https://doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/2025.BL23774
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Research Journal of MMC (IRJMMC)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.


