Understanding organic food consumption: attitude as a mediator

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of health consciousness, environmental concern and food safety concern on both the intention to buy organic foods and the attitude towards organic foods, and the effect of attitude towards organic foods on the intention to buy organic foods. It had also a specific aim to explore whether attitude has a mediation effect on the relationship between the intention to buy and health consciousness, environmental concern and food safety concern. Data were gathered from consumers using a survey. The questionnaire used was administered to a convenience sample of 385 consumers from Adana, Turkey, through a self‐administered questionnaire. Regression and mediation analysis were used to test the hypotheses. The findings suggested that the attitude and the intention to buy were affected by health consciousness, environmental concern and food safety concern. They also showed that the attitude plays a fundamental role both in terms of the direct impact on the intention to buy and the indirect effect as a mediator on how the health consciousness, environmental concern and food safety concern affect the intention to buy. This research is useful to fill the gaps in the literature regarding the mediation effect of the attitude on the relationship between the intention to buy and food safety concern. Another contribution is being one of the first to examine the attitude as a mediator on the relationship between the intention to buy organic foods and health consciousness, environmental concern and food safety concern of Turkish consumers.

Factors affecting consumer attitude towards organic food: an empirical study in Hong Kong

“…It is important to note that our research results are different from those of other studies that propose a positive association between healthconsciousness and attitude towards organic food (Ç abuk et al, 2014;Chen, 2009). This difference can be explained by the research results of Wandel and Bugge (1997), which show a contrast between young adults and old adults in the choice of organic food products.…”

The consumer of food products in organic markets of central Mexico

“…These results are consistent with those found in several other studies in which the largest proportion of consumers of organic food found in street and organic markets are women (Çabuk et al, 2014;Chen et al, 2014;Mohamada et al, 2014;Van Loo et al, 2014;Wu et al, 2014).…”

Motives Underlying Organic Food Consumption in Turkey: Impact of Health, Environment, and Consumer Values on Purchase Intentions

“…This factor explains 16.269% of the variance. This finding is also supporting the existing literature as health is the main motivator of consuming organic food (Pellegrini & Farinello, 2009;Lockie et al, 2002;Magnusson et al, 2003;Chryssohoidis & Krystallis, 2005;Gracia & Magistris, 2008;Hughner et al, 2007;Li et al, 2007;Wier et al, 2008;Zepeda & Deal, 2009;Bellows et al, 2010;Cerjak et al, 2010;Hasançebi, 2010;Ergin & Ozsacmaci, 2011;Çabuk et al 2014). The second factor contains three items and it is named as "Product Related" factor which is related to perceived characteristics of organic foods by consumers.…”