Journal of Consumer Affairs最新文献

Using data from the 2021 wave of the FINRA Foundation's National Financial Capability Study (NFCS), collected between June and October 2021, we found that adults in households where at least one member contracted the COVID-19 virus had lower financial wellbeing and were more likely to be financially fragile than those in which no members had contracted the virus. Our analyses also revealed that COVID-19-positive households were more likely to report experiencing objective general financial difficulties and difficulties specifically tied to medical costs and debt. Further, to assess whether evidence of a causal link between a COVID-19 infection and negative financial outcomes existed, we used state vaccination rates as an instrumental variable. Our analysis supported a causal link and contributes to a growing body of research on the effects of the pandemic on household finances. Together, our findings can inform how policy makers and other stakeholders may want to respond to the financial repercussions caused by future global health crises and disruptions.

Insurance fraud increases premiums for all U.S. households and undermines the insurer/insured relationship. This article examines willingness to commit insurance fraud using data from an online survey completed by 1505 U.S. adults and analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. Roughly one-half of the sample would never commit any of the nine types of insurance fraud in the survey. Fewer than 20% (17.2%) of the respondents said they had committed at least one of the types of fraud. Both of the moral intensity variables were significant, but the signs were opposite. Moral Intensity PC1 (Magnitude of Consequences, Probability of Effect, Temporal Immediacy, and Concentration of Effect) was negatively related to willingness to commit insurance fraud, while Moral Intensity PC2 (Social Consensus and Proximity) was positively related. Peer acceptance was significantly and positively related to willingness to commit insurance fraud, while the relationship with the belief that insurance fraud is a crime was negative. Several control variables were significant, including age; older respondents were significantly less likely to be willing to commit insurance fraud than younger respondents. The article concludes by discussing future directions for research and practical implications for consumer educators.

Galizzi, M., A. Hillier, and D. Schena. 2023. “Financial Literacy Among Autistic Adults.” Journal of Consumer Affairs 57, no. 4: 1650–1683.

Accordingly, in the second paragraph of Section 3.2 on “Representativeness” the following text was incorrect: “Along other dimensions however, our ASD individuals did not differ from what has been found in other studies. Their employment rate was reported at 63%, and their college attendance was 29%. Previous research focused on autistic adults has previously reported employment rates approximating 58%–62% (Ohl et al., 2017; Roux et al., 2021). Shattuck et al. (2012), in a survey of the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 dataset, found that 35% of autistic individuals had attended college. Our ASD sample was also …”

This should have read: “The college attendance of ASD participants was 69% while Shattuck et al. (2012), in a survey of the National Longitudinal Transition Study 2 dataset, found that only 35% of autistic individuals had attended college.

Along other dimensions, however, our ASD individuals did not differ from what has been found in other studies. Their employment rate was reported at 63%. Previous research focused on autistic adults has previously reported employment rates approximating 58%–62% (Ohl et al., 2017; Roux et al., 2021). Our ASD sample was also…”

In the second paragraph in Section 3.4 on “Data analyses” the following text was incorrect: “This results in a sample with an overall lower level of education, but also higher income (Table1).” This should have read: “This results in our participant sample showing a higher level of education, and a higher income (Table 1).”

In the second paragraph in Section 4.1 on “Demographics and socioeconomic characteristics” the following text was incorrect: “Both groups also reported similar levels of education, with 29% of the autistic group and 23% of the MTurk group holding a college degree. Such values are consistent with the rate of 29% reported by the FINRA population, and lower than the national average of 38% (US Census Bureau, 2022).”

This should have read: “Both groups also reported similar levels of education, with 69% of the autistic group and 77% of the MTurk group holding a college degree. Such values are higher than the rate of 29% reported by the FINRA population, and higher than the national average of 38% (US Census Bureau, 2022).”

We apologize for these errors.

Adverse events such as disasters, pandemics, and other environmental threats can create perceived uncertainty about potential impacts and outcomes, exacerbating feelings of anxiety and vulnerability for some consumers. Drawing on social capital theory and the health belief model, the central question this research addresses is how do consumers build resilience in the face of perceived uncertainty and psychological vulnerability? We argue that their social capital pre-crisis can provide the foundations for coping and strengthening consumer resilience in the face of perceived uncertainty and psychological vulnerability. Using data from 809 consumers in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 pandemic, we found that pre-crisis social capital played a key role in building consumer resilience. However, perceived uncertainty and psychological vulnerability did not mediate and partially mediated, respectively, the relationship between pre-crisis social capital and consumer resilience. COVID-19 preparedness only positively moderated the effect of consumers' psychological vulnerability on their resilience. Implications for policy makers are discussed.

Millions of student loan borrowers worry about their loan repayments. Previous research has focused on student loan debt's impact on post-college outcomes, overlooking psychological aspects like repayment worry. Utilizing data from the 2021 National Financial Capability Survey (n = 2582), we developed and tested a theoretical model for understanding the determinants of student loan repayment worry (repayment worry) and the moderating effects of gender on the association between stressors (financial hardship and student loan delinquency) and repayment worry. Logistic regression showed that financial hardship and student loan delinquency are significant predictors of repayment worry. The coping resources we studied—financial self-efficacy, financial satisfaction, and household income—were significantly linked to lower repayment worry, except for financial capability. Notably, gender was a significant moderator of the financial hardship—repayment worry association, with males experiencing stronger effects than females, but did not moderate the student loan delinquency—repayment worry association. Implications for mitigating repayment worry are offered.

The storage and use of consumers' genetic information have increased in recent years, turning direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies into multimillion-dollar organizations. However, submitting DNA to a private company could be seen as a risky activity for consumers because of the highly sensitive nature of genetic information. This study takes an exploratory approach and addresses how consumers make decisions regarding direct-to-consumer DNA tests. Through a survey of 243 members of a Swedish genealogy association, we find that the perceived benefits that consumers obtain through this test, such as obtaining information about their heritage and unknown relatives, are highly significant determinants of undertaking a genetic test. Moreover, the results indicate that privacy concerns and the perception of control over the data influence the decision. This study contributes to the limited knowledge of decision-making in the context of sharing DNA with commercial actors. The results provide valuable insights for both consumers and policymakers.