Determinants of Frugal Behavior: The Influences of Consciousness for Sustainable Consumption, Materialism, and the Consideration of Future Consequences
Abstract:The transition toward sustainability and the adjustment to climate change should involve the reduction of consumption behavior and the need to maintain social practices of frugality. This paper investigates the influences of consciousness for sustainable consumption (CSC), materialism, and the consideration of future consequences (CFC) on frugal behaviors. Four-hundred-and-forty-four individuals responded to an instrument investigating these variables. Results of a structural model revealed that materialism si… Show more
“…The model as a whole, including the three consumer identities and environmental selfidentity, was able to predict a high amount of the variance of frugal behavior (47.9%). When analyzing the influence of the three consumer identities, it was the thrifty identity that had the strongest influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 1 is partially supported), highlighting the economic nature of this type of behavior, in line with previous evidence [15]. As expected, wasteful consumer identity had a negative influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 2 is supported); the more an individual identifies as a wasteful consumer, the less likely they are to engage in frugal consumption practices.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 78%
“…A recent study exploring the influence of consciousness for sustainable consumption on frugal behavior found mixed results [15]. Consciousness was measured by three factors: (a) environmental consciousness, centered on the responsible awareness of environmentally friendly consumption; (b) social consciousness, focused on socially responsible and fair consumption; and (c) economic consciousness, anchored on the effort to consume in a manner that protects long-term economic well-being.…”
The need to reduce consumption is evident, and a way of achieving this is through austerity and frugal practices. The aim of this research was to advance the understanding of frugal behavior and its relation to consumer identities, and to analyze any possible mediating effects of environmental self-identity. In Study 1 (n = 492), the factor structure of the consumer identities scale was tested and three distinct identities were defined: moral, wasteful, and thrifty consumer identities. In Study 2 (n = 500), the influence of consumer identities on frugal behavior was studied and the possible mediating effect of environmental self-identity was analyzed. Environmental self-identity completely mediated the relationship between moral identity and frugal behavior and partially mediated the relationships of both wasteful and thrifty identities with frugal behavior. The model was able to predict 27.6% of the variance of environmental self-identity and 47.9% of the variance of frugal behavior, with a strong influence by the thrifty consumer identity. This emphasizes the economic dimension of frugal consumption patterns and the importance of considering how people view themselves, both as individuals and as consumers, in order to more effectively engage and maintain long-term sustainable frugal actions.
“…The model as a whole, including the three consumer identities and environmental selfidentity, was able to predict a high amount of the variance of frugal behavior (47.9%). When analyzing the influence of the three consumer identities, it was the thrifty identity that had the strongest influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 1 is partially supported), highlighting the economic nature of this type of behavior, in line with previous evidence [15]. As expected, wasteful consumer identity had a negative influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 2 is supported); the more an individual identifies as a wasteful consumer, the less likely they are to engage in frugal consumption practices.…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 78%
“…A recent study exploring the influence of consciousness for sustainable consumption on frugal behavior found mixed results [15]. Consciousness was measured by three factors: (a) environmental consciousness, centered on the responsible awareness of environmentally friendly consumption; (b) social consciousness, focused on socially responsible and fair consumption; and (c) economic consciousness, anchored on the effort to consume in a manner that protects long-term economic well-being.…”
The need to reduce consumption is evident, and a way of achieving this is through austerity and frugal practices. The aim of this research was to advance the understanding of frugal behavior and its relation to consumer identities, and to analyze any possible mediating effects of environmental self-identity. In Study 1 (n = 492), the factor structure of the consumer identities scale was tested and three distinct identities were defined: moral, wasteful, and thrifty consumer identities. In Study 2 (n = 500), the influence of consumer identities on frugal behavior was studied and the possible mediating effect of environmental self-identity was analyzed. Environmental self-identity completely mediated the relationship between moral identity and frugal behavior and partially mediated the relationships of both wasteful and thrifty identities with frugal behavior. The model was able to predict 27.6% of the variance of environmental self-identity and 47.9% of the variance of frugal behavior, with a strong influence by the thrifty consumer identity. This emphasizes the economic dimension of frugal consumption patterns and the importance of considering how people view themselves, both as individuals and as consumers, in order to more effectively engage and maintain long-term sustainable frugal actions.
“…In the same vein, disseminating alternative normative messages oriented at reducing perceived competition based on material resources, and at increasing cooperation among low and middle classes for a general improvement in quality life, would contribute to building more cohesive and resilient societies. Messages promoting frugal behavior rather than materialism ( Suárez et al, 2020 ), for instance, could defuel the SA normative climate, as well as political movements based on shared identities among low and middle classes.…”
Status anxiety, the constant concern about individuals’ position on the social ladder, negatively affects social cohesion, health, and wellbeing (e.g., chronic stress). Given previous findings showing that status anxiety is associated with economic inequality, we aimed in this research to test this association experimentally. A cross-sectional study (Study 1) was run in order to discard confounding effects of the relationship between perceived economic inequality (PEI) and status anxiety, and to explore the mediating role of a competitive climate (N = 297). Then we predicted that people assigned to a condition of high inequality would perceive more status anxiety in their social context, and they would themselves report higher status anxiety. Thus, in an experimental study (Study 2) PEI was manipulated (N = 200). In Study 1, PEI uniquely predicted status anxiety, and perceived competitiveness mediated the relationship. In Study 2 PEI increased perceived contextual status anxiety, a specific form of perceived competitiveness based on socioeconomic status (SES). Moreover, preliminary evidence of an indirect effect was found from PEI to personal status anxiety, through (higher) perceived contextual status anxiety. These preliminary findings provide experimental evidence for the effects of economic inequality on status anxiety and the mechanism involved. Economic inequality makes people feel that they live in a society where they are constantly concerned and competing with each other for their SES. These results could have important implications as health and wellbeing could be promoted by reducing economic inequalities and the competitive and materialistic environments of our societies.
“…El surgimiento de este concepto se presentó en la década de los sesenta para contrarrestar la visión del consumo normal, el cual puede ser entendido como la conciencia social de un individuo (Suárez et al, 2020) que tiene en cuenta las consecuencias públicas de su consumo privado como una construcción psicológica de participación social, donde, a través del poder adquisitivo, se pretende lograr un cambio en la sociedad, atendiendo su preocupación por los problemas sociales y ambientales (Lim et al, 2019), conocidos principalmente gracias a los movimientos medioambientalistas de la época (Webster, 1975).…”
Esta investigación analizó la relación entre religiosidad, norma subjetiva y efectividad percibida del consumidor en la intención de compra de productos socialmente responsables. La investigación empírica se basó en un cuestionario repartido, en igual proporción, a 485 personas ubicadas en Colombia y España. Para su evaluación se realizó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales a partir de la técnica Partial Least Square (PLS). Se encontró similitud en los resultados entre ambos países, comprobándose, en los dos casos, la influencia de la religiosidad sobre las dimensiones de consumo responsable. También se pudo determinar la importancia de la norma subjetiva sobre este tipo de consumo. Sin embargo, no fue posible comprobar la hipótesis que relacionaba la efectividad percibida por el consumidor en este tipo de compras. Con estos resultados se concluyó acerca de la importancia del papel de la religiosidad en las intenciones de consumo responsable, debido, principalmente, a su función simbólica y socializadora como elemento de aculturación y de expresión de identidad. Asimismo, fue posible ampliar la teoría del comportamiento planificado al explorar la norma subjetiva en este tipo de compras. El estudio sugirió investigaciones sobre consumo responsable y sus factores influyentes, y propuso estrategias de marketing para fortalecerlo en favor del medio ambiente, la sociedad y la economía de las organizaciones.
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