“Oh, You Shouldn’t Have!” Understanding Key Factors Impacting Cut Flowers Gifting Preferences in Germany

Cut flower gifting preferences are relatively unexplored in Germany. This study proposes a model that investigates the impact of attitudinal, experiential, and socio-demographic factors on the cut flower gifting preferences of German consumers. For this purpose, an online survey with a representative sample of 978 German residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that active and passive engagement with plants and nature positively impact cut flower giving preferences through cut flower knowledge, cut flower fondness, and perceived versatility of cut flowers. For German women and men, the largest driver of cut flower giving preferences is the versatility of cut flowers. For women, cut flower fondness is the second largest driver of cut flower gifting preferences, whereas for men subjective knowledge was the second largest driver. Other socio-demographic factors (age, income, education) were not found to impact cut flower giving preferences.

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Exploring Key Factors Determining US Consumer Preferences for Growing over Buying Fruit in Pre-Covidian and Covidian Times

Horticulturae ◽

10.3390/horticulturae7120575 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 575

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Tim Baird

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Consumer Preferences ◽

Farmers Markets ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Key Factors ◽

Community Gardening ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Perceived Impact ◽

The Impact

This study provides insights for managers in the food retail sector, the horticultural industry, actors involved in community gardening and farmers’ markets. It proposes a model that investigates key factors determining US consumer preferences for growing fruit over buying it in pre-Covidian and Covidian times. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample of 383 US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that subjective knowledge about fruit and the perceived impact of COVID-19 are the most important drivers of preferences for growing over buying in Covidian times. The impact of COVID-19 had no relevance for the pre-Covidian times. For both scenarios, only age and gender as socio-demographic factors were found to influence subjective knowledge and the perceived impact of COVID-19. Other sociodemographic factors were not found to have any impact.

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Understanding Apple Attribute Preferences of US Consumers

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods11020166 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 166

Author(s):

Rombach Meike ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Tim Baird

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Consumer Attitudes ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Objective Knowledge ◽

Key Factors ◽

Positive Health ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Societal Benefits ◽

Equation Modelling

Apple preferences of US consumers are widely explored. However, the key factors that drive the importance that US consumers place on apple attributes are rather unexplored. To fill this literature gap, an online survey with 383 US apple buyers was conducted. A two-step analysis consisting of descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modelling indicates that subjective knowledge was the most important factor, determining both the discernment of buyers and attitudes towards US fruit growers. Objective knowledge and sociodemographic factors, other than education, were not found to have any impact. The discernment of a buyer and their ability to distinguish apple varieties had the greatest impact on the importance that US consumers placed on physical and commercial product attributes. It was also found that attitudes towards growers impacted on the importance which consumers place on both types of attributes. Given that consumer attitudes were shown to be a strong driver of their buying preferences, growers and grower associations should also consider highlighting the positive health and societal benefits that their products provide.

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The Ethically Conscious Flower Consumer: Understanding Fair Trade Cut Flower Purchase Behavior in Germany

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su132112133 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (21) ◽

pp. 12133

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean ◽

Nicole J. Olynk Widmar ◽

Vera Bitsch

Keyword(s):

Fair Trade ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Best Practice ◽

Online Survey ◽

Purchase Behavior ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Key Factors ◽

Buying Behavior ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

Fair trade flowers are an important niche product relevant to ethically conscious consumers. The study proposes a model that investigates key factors affecting the behavior of these cut flower consumers in Germany. The study serves to complement the existing studies dedicated to preferences for flower attributes and products, as well as consumers’ willingness to pay. It builds on an online survey with a representative sample of 772 German cut-flower consumers. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that concern for the treatment of workers from countries with poor environmental and labor reputations, the breadth of fair trade cut flower information sources, and familiarity with the fair trade concept and its influence on flower production issues positively impact the relative importance that consumers dedicate to fair trade certification as a cut flower attribute. The same factors also positively impact fair trade cut flower buying behavior. Socio-demographic factors did not show any impact. The study concludes with best practice recommendations for retailers and horticultural marketers on how to address the needs and wants of ethically conscious consumers.

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Not just food: Exploring the influence of food blog engagement on intention to taste and to visit

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-04-2021-0400 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Giada Mainolfi ◽

Vittoria Marino ◽

Riccardo Resciniti

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Joint Analysis ◽

Content Type ◽

The Past ◽

Equation Modelling ◽

Proposed Model ◽

Influence Of Food ◽

Perceived Enjoyment ◽

The Impact

PurposeThe present study investigates the impact of perceived enjoyment, blogger credibility and homophily on readers' engagement. Moreover, the study investigates the role exerted by blog engagement on intentions to follow blogger's recommendations. Despite the growing relevance of these issues, past studies have neglected the relevance of a joint analysis of such dimensions within the context of food blogs.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical research builds on an online survey with a sample of 821 blog readers (353 Italian and 468 American). The proposed model was tested through structural equation modelling.FindingsResults from a survey on Italian and American consumers show that perceived enjoyment and homophily have a significant effect on blog engagement, which, in turn, positively influences both intention to taste and visit. Moreover, blogger credibility does not show a significant influence on blog engagement for Italian and American followers.Originality/valueThe study contributes to a better understanding of the influence exerted by blog engagement on intention to follow blogger's recommendations. The study also examines perceived enjoyment, credibility and homophily as antecedents of engagement, which have not been extensively researched in the past with respect to food blogs.

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Sharenting: Internet addiction, self-control and online photos of underage children

Comunicar ◽

10.3916/c64-2020-09 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (64) ◽

pp. 97-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Francisco-Javier Hinojo-Lucena ◽

Inmaculada Aznar-Díaz ◽

María-Pilar Cáceres-Reche ◽

Juan-Manuel Trujillo-Torres ◽

José-María Romero-Rodríguez

Keyword(s):

Internet Addiction ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Internet Security ◽

Self Control ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

Low Self Control ◽

Practical Implications ◽

A Current

Sharenting is becoming a regular practice that compromises children’s safety and privacy. This phenomenon is related to the act of sharing images of underage children on the Internet by their relatives. At the same time, a concern arises about the levels of Internet addiction in the population. In turn, levels of Internet addiction are a current problem in modern societies that has been linked to low self-control. This paper aims to analyse the degree to which images are published and the reasons why the adult segment of the population practices sharenting, to determine the socio-demographic factors that have an impact on sharenting, Internet addiction and self-control, and to establish the correlations between these three variables. A total of 367 Spanish adults aged between 18 and 61 (M=28.98; SD=10.47) completed an online survey. Both the multiple regression analysis and the structural equation modelling revealed that: 1) Age emerges as a predictor of Internet addiction; 2) Age, gender and employment status are predictors of low self-control; 3) No socio-demographic factors were found to be predictors of sharenting; 4) The only significant correlation was observed between Internet addiction and self-control. Finally, practical implications of this paper on the protection of minors and adults’ need for information on Internet security are discussed. El sharenting se está convirtiendo en una práctica habitual que pone en riesgo la seguridad y privacidad de los niños. Este fenómeno responde al acto de compartir imágenes de menores de edad en Internet por parte de los familiares. A su vez, los niveles de adicción a Internet son una problemática actual en las sociedades modernas que ha empezado a vincularse con tener un bajo autocontrol. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el grado de publicación de imágenes y los motivos para realizar sharenting por parte de la población adulta, determinar los factores sociodemográficos que influyen en el sharenting, la adicción a Internet y autocontrol y establecer las correlaciones generadas entre estas tres variables. Participaron en la encuesta en línea un total de 367 adultos españoles entre 18 y 61 años (M=28,98; SD=10,47). Los análisis de regresión múltiple y el modelado de ecuaciones estructurales revelaron que: 1) La edad se alza como un predictor de la adicción a Internet; 2) La edad, género y situación laboral son predictores de un bajo autocontrol; 3) No se hallaron factores sociodemográficos que sean predictores del sharenting; 4) La única correlación significativa se estableció entre la adicción a Internet y el autocontrol. Finalmente, se discuten las implicaciones prácticas de este trabajo sobre la protección del menor y la necesidad de formación que tienen los adultos sobre seguridad en Internet.

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It Keeps the Good Boy Healthy from Nose to Tail: Understanding Pet Food Attribute Preferences of US Consumers

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3301

Author(s):

Meike Rombach ◽

David L. Dean

Keyword(s):

Structural Equation ◽

Online Survey ◽

Health Claims ◽

Objective Knowledge ◽

Pet Food ◽

Product Attributes ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Food Purchase ◽

Pet Owners ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

The study provides insights for marketing managers in specialized pet supplies retailers, as well as for vets and animal welfare organizations. This study proposes a model that investigates the importance pet owners place on convenience, natural ingredients, and value and health claims as product attributes. For this purpose, an online survey with a sample size of 206 pet-owning US residents was conducted. Partial least squares structural equation modelling shows that pet food purchase involvement positively impacts subjective and objective knowledge about pet food. Subjective knowledge appears to be the strongest factor impacting the importance consumers place on all three attributes. This is followed by objective knowledge. Socio-demographic factors such as gender, age, income, and education appear to have a limited impact as predictors for the importance consumers place on the product attributes.

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Socio-Demographic Factors Influencing the Use of Assistive Technology among Children with Disabilities in Malawi

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063062 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3062

Author(s):

Monica Jamali-Phiri ◽

Ikenna D. Ebuenyi ◽

Emma M. Smith ◽

Juba Alyce Kafumba ◽

Malcolm MacLachlan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Assistive Technology ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Children With Disabilities ◽

Unmet Need ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Multiple Disabilities ◽

Equation Modeling ◽

Persons With Disabilities ◽

Socio Demographic Factors

This paper aims to address the information gap on the influence of socio-demographic factors on access and utilization of Assistive Technology (AT) among children with disabilities in Malawi. Thus, it contributes towards the realization of the recommendations of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities and the development of a framework for creating an effective national AT policy. The paper used two statistically matched datasets, namely, the 2017 survey on Living conditions among persons with disabilities in Malawi and the 2015-16 Malawi Demographic and Health survey. Logistic regression and structural equation modeling techniques were utilized to assess the influence of socio-demographic factors on the use of AT among children with disabilities. The results indicate that there is a high level of unmet need for AT among young children aged 2 to 9 and those living in urban areas. The results further indicate that children with multiple disabilities have lower odds (OR = 0.924) of using AT for personal mobility compared to children with a single functional difficulty. These results entail that AT needs for children with multiple disabilities are not adequately addressed. Therefore, when developing policies on AT, younger children and those with multiple disabilities need to be specifically targeted.

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The impact of socio-demographic factors on the survival of cancer patients in Zimbabwe

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-91781-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Idika E. Okorie ◽

Ricardo Moyo ◽

Saralees Nadarajah

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Survival Analysis ◽

Marital Status ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Hazard Rate ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Demographic Factors ◽

Female Cancer Patients ◽

Socio Demographic Factors ◽

The Impact

AbstractWe provide a survival analysis of cancer patients in Zimbabwe. Our results show that young cancer patients have lower but not significant hazard rate compared to old cancer patients. Male cancer patients have lower but not significant hazard rate compared to female cancer patients. Race and marital status are significant risk factors for cancer patients in Zimbabwe.

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A Cross-National Study of Dementia Stigma Among the General Public in Israel and Australia

Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.3233/jad-210277 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Perla Werner ◽

Sarang Kim

Keyword(s):

General Public ◽

Cultural Context ◽

Online Survey ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

National Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Subjective Knowledge ◽

Cultural Aspects ◽

The Impact ◽

Cross National

Background: Despite the increasing amount of research on dementia stigma, there is a dearth of cross-national studies conducted on this subject. This is surprising since the experience of stigma is closely associated to socio-cultural aspects. Objective: The present study intended to expand knowledge about the impact of culture on dementia stigma by comparing the level and correlates of stigmatic beliefs about dementia among the general public in Israel and Australia. Methods: A cross-sectional study using an online survey was conducted with two age-matched samples: 447 adults in Israel and 290 adults in Australia. Results: Overall, dementia stigma was moderate in both countries. However, the level of dementia stigma was significantly higher in Australia than in Israel. Lower levels of subjective knowledge and higher levels of ageism were associated with increased levels of stigmatic beliefs in both countries. Gender was a significant correlate of dementia stigma, with male participants reporting higher levels of public stigma than women, although this gender difference was mainly driven by the Australian sample. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that providing knowledge and decreasing ageist attitudes should be key considerations in dementia awareness and stigma reduction campaigns despite the cultural context. In addition, developing gender-specific messages should be considered as a way of improving the effects of such campaigns.

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Do Environmental Transformational Leadership Predicts Organizational Citizenship Behavior towards Environment in Hospitality Industry: Using Structural Equation Modelling Approach

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13105594 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (10) ◽

pp. 5594

Author(s):

Jehanzeb Khan Gurmani ◽

Noor Ullah Khan ◽

Muhammad Khalique ◽

Muhammad Yasir ◽

Asfia Obaid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transformational Leadership ◽

Organizational Citizenship ◽

Organizational Citizenship Behavior ◽

Social Information Processing ◽

Structural Equation Modelling ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Meaningful Work ◽

Citizenship Behavior ◽

Equation Modelling ◽

The Impact

Voluntary pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace such as organizational citizenship behavior towards environment (OCBE) are pertinent for the organizations striving to become environmentally responsible entities. The significance of OCBE for green organizational initiatives has led scholars to strive for expanding its nomological network. Approaching from the theoretical angle of the social information processing approach, this quantitative, survey-based study theoretically links and empirically tests the impact of environmental transformational leadership on organizational citizenship behavior towards environment (OCBE) via mediating mechanism of perceived meaningful work. Data from a sample of 311 employees working in Pakistan’s hospitality sector were collected and analyzed to test the hypothesized relationships using structural equation modelling. Results indicated the indirect effect of perceived meaningful work on the relationship between environmental transformational leadership and organizational citizenship behavior towards environment. Implications of both theoretical and practical nature are laid out in the relevant sections of the paper.

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