Unpacking the relationship between materialism, status consumption and attitude to debt

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study is to investigate how religiosity affects these relationships in Turkey where consumption is de-stigmatized among a new economic elite with strong ties to Islamism. The literature commonly associates religion and ideology with anti-capitalism and anti-consumption. Although consumer researchers have studied both topics, examination of whether materialistic values translate into status consumption and whether religiosity has an effect on the relationship between status consumption and consumer attitude to debt remains scant. Design/methodology/approach This paper investigates the relationship of materialism to status consumption and the mediating role of Islamic religiosity on the relationship between status consumption and attitude to debt. Structural equations modeling was used on a judgmental sample of 267. Findings The results showed that the materialistic values positively affect status consumption for the Islamists. This paper concludes that Islamic religiosity, not only does not reject consumption but also augments the relationship between status consumption and consumer attitude to debt. Originality/value The findings have shown that previous studies that identify Islam as a threat to consumerism have overseen the class struggles and the role of status consumption. This paper successfully provided empirical evidence that the religiosity not only does not reject consuming but intensifies the relationship between status consumption and attitude to debt for those with Islamist dispositions.

Islamic marketing: A literature review and research agenda

“…Religiosity also performs the role of moderating variable; for example, the relationship between environmental orientation and marketing practices, and the relationship between ego‐defensive advertisement and customer attitudes is moderated by religiosity (Adi & Adawiyah, 2018; Akbari et al., 2018; Ariffin et al., 2016; Wahyuni & Fitriani, 2017). Religiosity also performs mediating role (Mansour & Diab, 2016; Yeniaras, 2016). Mansour and Diab (2016) found that that celebrities' credibility is mediated by religiosity to form customers' attitudes towards advertisements.…”

“…Islamic finance also dominates Muslim marketing literature with works by (Alserhan, 2010b; Fatema et al., 2018; Ireland, 2018; Jamshidi & Hussin, 2016; Ltifi et al., 2016; Mahdzan et al., 2017; Maulan et al., 2016; Sayani et al., 2013; Setyobudi et al., 2016; Wahyuni & Fitriani, 2017; Yeniaras, 2016; Yildiz et al., 2014; Zinser, 2019) publishing works with varied focus, for example—emphasizing customer loyalty (Ireland, 2018; Wahyuni & Fitriani, 2017); consumer behaviour and attitudes towards banking and finacial sector (Fatema et al., 2018; Jamshidi & Hussin, 2016; Ltifi et al., 2016; Mahdzan et al., 2017; Yeniaras, 2016; Yildiz et al., 2014).…”

The Effect of Materialistic Value-Orientation on Religiosity in Bangladesh: An Empirical Investigation

“…(Taheri 2016). People with explicit Islamist dispositions are found to be more likely to purchase products or avail services that could reflect status even at the expense of debts (Yeniaras 2016). Where there are a number of studies considering materialism with many variables such as subjective well-being, nonetheless 'Religiosity' has not been addressed in academic studies.…”

Actitudes hacia el endeudamiento hedónico en estudiantes secundarios chilenos

“…En la adolescencia, como producto de las presiones de la sociedad de consumo, los objetos materiales cumplen la función de apoyar la construcción de una identidad propia y lograr prestigio frente a los pares, de modo que se vinculan a la autorrealización (Lins et al, 2013). Los valores materiales se definen como la importancia dada a las posesiones en la vida de los individuos basadas en un conjunto de creencias acerca de sus beneficios psicológicos y, especialmente, a la felicidad que proporcionan (Yeniaras, 2016). En la adolescencia se vinculan a las metas (Banerjee & Dittmar, 2008), de manera que influyen en la capacidad de adaptación social, emocional y conductual (Maras et al, 2015) y se relacionan con el consumo hedónico (János & Ágnes, 2020).…”