Determinants of Mobile Payment Adoption among Rural Households in Thrissur District, Kerala

This study investigated the factors influencing mobile payment usage among rural households in Thrissur District, Kerala. The descriptive analysis indicated a significant level of mobile payment acceptance, with an overall mean score of 3.92, demonstrating that rural families have predominantly accepted mobile payment applications for their daily financial activities. Participants conveyed favourable sentiments regarding the consistent use of mobile payment applications, their ongoing usage, and their readiness to endorse these applications to others. The multiple regression analysis indicated that digital literacy, perceived ease of use, trust, perceived security, and social impact significantly and positively affect mobile payment acceptance. Among these characteristics, digital literacy emerged as the most significant predictor, underscoring the necessity of users' proficiency in properly utilizing digital technology. Trust was recognized as the second most significant issue, highlighting the necessity for dependable and transparent digital payment services. While reported ease of use, social influence, and perceived security had notable positive benefits, their relative impact was comparatively diminished. The results indicate that augmenting users' digital competencies, bolstering trust in digital payment systems, streamlining application interfaces, enhancing security features, and promoting positive social influence can significantly elevate the adoption of mobile payment services among rural households.

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