International Journal of Consumer Studies最新文献

With recent advancements in technologies such as artificial intelligence and computer-generated imagery, virtual influencers (VIs) have become prominent branding tools that command high engagement rates. Most extant research explores the marketing outcomes of using VIs in brand campaigns. However, little is known about how interacting with VIs on social media platforms may affect consumers' well-being. This research takes a comprehensive approach, developing a nuanced understanding of whether (and how) human-like VIs (HVIs) impact consumers' well-being. We employ a conceptual development approach drawing on scholarship from influencer marketing, narrative transportation, and consumer well-being and gather additional support for the conceptual framework from data collected by interviewing 25 followers of HVIs. The conceptual framework proposes that when interacting with influencers' social media posts, followers experience narrative transportation, which positively influences followers' hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. However, the conceptual framework also proposes that these relationships are moderated by the type of influencer (human vs. virtual) sharing the post. Specifically, we suggest that interactions with HVIs provide followers with enjoyment (hedonic well-being) and support their self-acceptance, personal growth, relationships, and autonomy (eudaimonic well-being). We also provide initial evidence of the favorable marketing outcomes of enhanced well-being from engagement with HVIs, including contemplation of brand purchase. The study thus advances extant VI literature by proposing a theoretically and empirically informed conceptual model that examines HVIs' influence on consumer well-being. Also, it contributes to addressing the broader calls for research on the impact of social media and influencer marketing on consumer well-being.

This study conducted a systematic literature review integrating the TCM and ADO frameworks to analyze 46 studies published from 2014 to 2023 on the impact of aging on consumer behavior. The research adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses principles, using data from Scopus, WoS, and ScienceDirect. Results showed an increasing trend in publications focusing primarily on elderly consumers. Analysis revealed that the Theory of Planned Behavior and technology acceptance model are the most frequently used theories, with research concentrated in the United States and China. Common methods included questionnaires, structural equation modeling, and regression analysis. The ADO framework highlighted psychological and individual-related antecedents as the most discussed. A relationship table categorizing 135 antecedents into five major categories showed a predominantly positive influence of antecedents on decisions and outcomes. Sixty aging-related antecedents were identified, covering all but product-related categories. The study identified critical research gaps and proposed future directions, offering insights for policymakers and practitioners to address aging society challenges and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Food traceability is a critical approach that ensures the safety and quality of food. It has garnered significant attention, particularly in the aftermath of multiple food safety incidents reported in various countries. While there is extant literature available on consumer perspectives on food traceability, the findings are not consistent across studies. This systematic literature review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding by integrating findings from past studies. It includes 61 articles sourced from two databases, namely Scopus and Web of Science. This review outlines various stages of a consumer's decision for food traceability, starting from exposure, awareness, understanding, liking and disliking, attitudes and preferences, purchase intentions and willingness to pay, to the final purchase. It also identifies the determinants of consumer responses to food traceability, categorising them as factors internal to the consumers, determinants due to the perception of external factors and contextual factors. Moreover, it identifies gaps in the existing research and proposes research questions to expand the knowledge in this area.

Understanding how young people learn to manage their finances responsibly can guide interventions to improve their financial health and stability in the short and long term, yet merely increasing financial knowledge and skills is ineffective. Psychological and environmental factors appear to be important determinants of financial behavior, yet such factors have long been neglected in the literature. The present study appears to be the first to assess empirically the contribution of intuitive and rational mental capacity as well as opportunities and motivation to financial behavior formation. We surveyed 2299 young adults at 229 high schools and universities in Croatia. Through structural equation modeling, we found that intuitive and rational thinking as well as motivation and opportunity substantially influenced the formation of financial behavior, whereas financial knowledge played a negligible role. Rational thinking was a stronger determinant than intuitive thinking in the case of healthy financial behavior, while the opposite was true in the case of impulsive consumption. These insights may help develop effective interventions for promoting positive financial habits among young adults.

The purpose of this article is to develop a conceptual framework of consumer financial behavior with a multidisciplinary approach. Consumer financial behavior is the subject of research in many scientific disciplines, although it is of greatest interest to economists, sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers. The frailty and still insufficient functionality, as well as the lack of application of the models may result from constantly changing macro and microeconomic factors, changing trends, the impact of generational affiliation, and conceptual-theoretical inconsistencies. Taking into consideration current attitudes toward understanding consumer financial behavior, a contribution to literature is an attempt to diagnose the components of a functional model for financial behaviors, in particular, the diagnosis of input and output factors in the decision-making process. The proposed model of consumer financial behavior consists of five elements: type of consumer, type of financial product, motivation, abilities, and opportunities, and the factors determining them may be both economic and noneconomic.

Virtual avatar deployment has opened a new window for many industries in service personalization and customization, offering customers “anytime–anywhere” services. It becomes increasingly essential for marketing practitioners and scholars to clearly understand how avatar attributes and traits are reshaping customer value perceptions in the digital world. Despite the exponential growth of research interest within this area in the last decade, the literature on avatar attributes and consumer-perceived values remains fragmented and isolated. Given this circumstance, this review draws on the theory–context–characteristics–methods framework and explores the extant literature to provide a collective and comprehensive insight into dominant theories, contexts, characteristics, and methodologies in the context of avatar-based marketing (ABM). A systematic literature review was applied to rigorously review 57 published articles on avatars and ABM from 2005 to 2023. Using in-depth content analysis, the current review sheds light on the opportunity to extend the theoretical foundations for the ABM literature. It also identifies gaps in understanding avatar attributes and the associated consumer values, with potential implications for consumer behavior. Finally, it sums up a comprehensive future research agenda.

Social media influencers (SMIs) have a significant impact on consumer decisions, and research in this area comprises a substantial portion of the literature. Despite marketing firms' attention to SMIs, a comprehensive evaluation of their impact on the consumer decision literature is lacking. Therefore, this study offers a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the impact of social media influencers on consumer decisions. Using a framework-based approach, the TCM framework provides a structured exploration of the theories, contexts, and methods found in 106 relevant articles. Concurrently, the ADO framework examines the determinants of consumers' decisions. This review identifies 62 distinct antecedents categorized into seven broad groups and explores why specific factors positively or negatively affect purchase decisions and outcomes. This study highlights key gaps in the current influencer marketing literature and provides insights for future research and practical implications in the fields of psychology, marketing, and consumer behavior.