Does religiosity matter for vice product consumption among Chinese individuals?

Abstract

Religiosity defines the extrinsic utilitarian and intrinsic spiritual motivations of religious individuals. Many people have adopted vice product consumption, including addictive behaviours like alcohol drinking and gambling, in part to relieve daily pressure and tension. By applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this exploratory study examines the role of religiosity on Chinese individuals' alcohol drinking and gambling consumption urges via the mediating role of perceived (internal and external) behavioural control. Two separate studies were conducted, with a total of 1,010 respondents. The results showed a significant direct positive relationship between intrinsic religiosity and an individual's perceived behavioural control (both internal and external). There was no significant link between extrinsic religiosity and perceived behavioural control. Moreover, perceived internal behavioural control partially mediated the relationship between intrinsic religiosity and vice product consumption urges. These findings have meaningful implications for policymakers and social marketers.

A meta-analytical review of religion and gambling: In search of psychological mechanisms – Stage 1 manuscript

“…Jessors' problem behavior theory suggests that religiosity may protect during critical developmental stages by fostering social and personal controls, moral values, and complianceoriented adjustment (Jessor & Jessor, 1977;Rohrbaugh & Jessor, 1975). Mok & Lam (2022) conducted two studies involving 1,010 respondents, finding that intrinsic religiosity in Chinese individuals positively influenced perceived behavioral control and reduced urges for vice product consumption, including gambling. Further mechanisms like adherence to a spiritual-religious lifestyle (Hodge et al, 2007), abstaining from gambling (Coulter et al, 2013;Lalande et al, 2013;Rash et al, 2018), and risk-taking strategy (Hoffmann, 2000) have been proposed as ways in which religiosity influences gambling behaviors.…”