scholarly journals The COVID-19 Lockdown Effect on the Intention to Purchase Sustainable Brands

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3241
Author(s):  
Lidia Alexa ◽  
Andreea Apetrei ◽  
Juan Sapena

After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 pandemic on 11 March 2020, almost all European countries entered a lockdown. This context caused sudden changes at multiple levels, affecting the way people were working, buying, studying and even the way they were interacting. Moreover, during lockdown people showed a special attention to local and sustainable brands giving momentum to the interest on sustainability, that has been increasing in the last years. Therefore, this study aims to determine the intention of buying sustainable and local brands due to the COVID-19 lockdown. An online survey was conducted for two groups of young adults from Spain and Romania, between April and June 2020. The questionnaire respects the methodological recommendations of Azjen (1985) and related literature on how to construct a survey based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and it aims to gather information about the three main constructs that determine the individual’s behavioral intention: attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. The results suggest that both Spanish and Romanian samples intended to buy more local and sustainable brands, despite the slightly different attitudes. Moreover, the data show that both subjective norms and perceived behavioral control influence attitudes toward sustainable and local brands, and hence, indirectly the intention to buy sustainable products. The outcomes are adding to the literature on sustainability, and understanding the effects of COVID-19 on consumer behavior. Additionally, the results can help better understand the importance of sustainability in Spain and Romania, and therefore, offering support to practitioners in building policies and programs that encourage a sustainable lifestyle.

Author(s):  
Xiaodong Yang ◽  
Liang Chen ◽  
Lai Wei ◽  
Qi Su

This study extends the theory of planned behavior by taking communication factors into account to examine the determinants of pro-environmental behavioral intention in haze mitigation. Unlike other theory of planned behavior (TPB) extension studies, we shift the focus of inquiry from examining the mediating role of TPB variables to investigating the moderating role in promoting pro-environmental behavior. Using an online survey in China, the results indicated that attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and attention to haze-related efficacy messages were positively associated with pro-environmental behavioral intention. Notably, attention to haze-related threat messages had no significant relationship with behavioral intention. Moreover, moderation analyses revealed that the interaction effects between attention to efficacy messages and attention to threat messages on behavioral intention vary among people with different attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Theoretically, this study contributes to the literature of the TPB by analyzing its moderating role in promoting behavior change. Findings from this study suggest the importance of disseminating distinctive media messages to audiences with different personality traits, which is beneficial for practitioners to tailor specific messages in environmental campaigns.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3998
Author(s):  
Anamaria Cozma-Petruţ ◽  
Lorena Filip ◽  
Roxana Banc ◽  
Oana Mîrza ◽  
Laura Gavrilaş ◽  
...  

In terms of breastfeeding (BF) practices in Romania, there is a lack of up-to-date data. The aim of the present study was to assess current BF practices, and to investigate the factors associated with exclusive BF (EBF) under 6 months of age in northwestern Romania. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data among 1399 mothers of children aged 0–23 months, recruited between March and June 2019, from the community. BF practices were evaluated based on the World Health Organization indicators for assessing infant and young child feeding practices, whereas determinants of EBF were explored using logistic regression models. Almost all mothers (95.7%) breastfed their child at least once. The EBF rate was 46.7%, the continued BF rate at one year of age was 54.2%, and the continued BF rate at 2 years of age was 30.3%. The place of delivery and parental leave duration were strong determinants of EBF. The improving rates observed in this study for all the BF practices assessed suggest the continuation of efforts to develop effective national policies and programs for promoting, protecting, and supporting BF in Romania. Particular emphasis should be given to the creation in maternity hospitals of an environment that is supportive towards breastfeeding.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 304
Author(s):  
Gabriel Horn Iwaya ◽  
Andrea Valéria Steil ◽  
Denise Cuffa

O artigo descreve o processo de busca de evidências de validade de conteúdo e de estrutura interna do modelo da Teoria do Comportamento Planejado (TCP) (Ajzen, 1991) aplicado à predição da intenção de compra de alimentos orgânicos no contexto brasileiro. O artigo apresenta o efeito que as atitudes, as normas subjetivas e o controle comportamental percebido exercem sobre a intenção de compra de alimentos orgânicos. A pesquisa seguiu o delineamento de levantamento online com amostragem por conveniência. A amostra contou com 705 consumidores brasileiros, maiores de idade e responsáveis ou parcialmente responsáveis pela compra de alimentos em suas residências. Na análise de dados foram utilizadas as técnicas de análise fatorial exploratória, confirmatória e de regressão linear múltipla hierárquica. O modelo da TCP explicou 58% da variação da intenção de compra de alimentos orgânicos. As atitudes (β=0,42), as normas subjetivas (β=0,30) e o controle comportamental percebido (β=0,35) são preditores da intenção de compra de alimentos orgânicos. Os resultados são relevantes para as organizações públicas e privadas envolvidas na cadeia de produção, de alimentos orgânicos que buscam subsídios teóricos e evidências científicas para justificar o desenvolvimento de mensagens voltadas à promoção da compra de alimentos orgânicos. As evidências encontradas corroboram a eficácia da TCP como modelo preditivo e apresentam resultados significativos que contribuem para o entendimento da formação da intenção de compra de alimentos orgânicos no contexto brasileiro.ABSTRACTThe article describes the search process for evidence of content validity and internal structure of the Theory of Planned Behavior model (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) applied to the prediction of the intention to purchase organic food in the Brazilian context. The article presents the effect that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control have on the intention to purchase organic foods. The research followed the design of an online survey with convenience sampling. The sample included 705 Brazilian consumers, of legal age and who are responsible or partially responsible for the purchase of food at their homes. In the data analysis, the techniques of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical multiple linear regression were used. The TBP model explained 58% of the variation in the intention to purchase organic food. Attitudes (β = 0.42), subjective norms (β = 0.30) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.35) are predictors of the intention to purchase organic foods. The results are relevant for public and private organizations involved in the organic food production chain that seek theoretical subsidies and scientific evidence to justify the development of messages aimed at promoting the purchase of organic foods. The evidence found corroborates the effectiveness of TPB as a predictive model and presents significant results that contribute to the understanding of the formation of the intention to purchase organic food in the Brazilian context.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261055
Author(s):  
Suhas Wasave ◽  
Sangita Wasave ◽  
Ketankumar Chaudhari ◽  
Prakash Shingare ◽  
Bharat Yadav ◽  
...  

The knowledge, awareness, and practices (KAP) about COVID-19 among the marine fishers who are engaged in the high-risk occupations and depend on the vulnerable sources of income in the Maharashtra state of India, were investigated to understand the behavioral changes and vulnerability among the respondents because of COVID-19. Data were collected through an online survey from 1st July to 30th July 2020 during the first peak of COVID-19 in the study area by using the questionnaire. Authors based on the latest recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the questionnaire and covered the KAP aspects under study. The questionnaire was administered through Google form link and the link was disseminated through social media such as Facebook and What’s App. The completed responses (n = 533) received from the eligible sample, excluding those outsides of the fisher community and duplicate entries were considered for analysis. Appropriate statistical tools were used to analyze the data. Among the respondents, 447 men (83.86%) and 86 women (16.14%), with a mean age of 45.4 years (M = 45.4, SD = 1.18). The results revealed that 70.92% of respondents perceived a low risk of infection because of COVID-19 with M = 1.77 and SD = 0.583, but authors found the perceived severity score high (M = 3.95, SD = 1.21) among the 60.97% of respondents. Around 95% of respondents were aware of the COVID-19, while almost all respondents knew the medium of infection and symptoms of COVID-19. The behavior of respondents towards COVID-19 infection was positive and was following sufficient precautionary measures suggested by WHO to protect themselves from COVID-19 infection. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the demographic features of respondents like age, education were significantly contributing to the KAP of the fisher community. The results confirmed the importance of KAP which is reflected in the behavioral responses of the fishers while tackling the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The results regarding the risk perception, severity, KAP about COVID-19 provide a collective understanding of the emerging infectious disease among the marine fishers of Maharashtra state of India.


Author(s):  
Mohtasham Ghaffari ◽  
Atefeh Afshari ◽  
Sakineh Rakhshanderou ◽  
Bahram Armoon

Abstract Background Nowadays, in Iran cesarean rates have increased from the recommended level of the World Health Organization (WHO). Objectives The objective of the present study was to determine which theory of planned behavior (TPB) constructs predict intentions and delivery mode among pregnant women. Methods One hundred and four pregnant nulliparous women in their third trimesters of pregnancy referred to Semirom health care centers were investigated based on census reports. The data were collected by valid and reliable questionnaire based on the TPB constructs and analyzed by SPSS16. Results In examining predictors using linear regression analysis to choose normal vaginal delivery (NVD), all constructs of TPB, including attitude toward NVD (p < 0.0001), subjective norms (p < 0.05) and perceived behavioral control (p < 0.001) were significantly correlated. Finally, after telephone follow-up with the women who had delivered newborns on their delivery method, it was found that 71.15% had a NVD and 28.14% had a cesarean delivery. Conclusions Regarding the effect of attitude to NVD, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control in NVD intention and its crucial role in anticipating the final delivery method, it is recommended considering these constructs in designing educational interventions for safe delivery in the investigated area.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 206-215
Author(s):  
Michele C. McDonnall ◽  
Emily M. Lund

The purpose of this study was to examine the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in explaining employers’ hiring intentions of people who are blind or visually impaired (B/VI). Participants were 388 hiring managers who completed an online survey that included the four TPB construct measures (attitudes, subjective norms, behavioral control, and intent to hire). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to determine the suitability of the measurement model, and structural equation modeling was used to test the structural model. The proposed TPB structural model provided good data fit; attitudes about productivity, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control accounted for more than 61% of the variance in intent to hire people who are blind. Attitudes about productivity of a blind employee had the strongest relationship with intent to hire, followed by subjective norms and perceived behavioral control. Rehabilitation professionals who work with B/VI individuals should educate employers about how this population can perform the employers’ jobs to improve attitudes about productivity. They should consider employers’ subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, which could be influenced by providing disability awareness presentations to company employees and maintaining a relationship with employers, thus enabling employers to have access to qualified applicants.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35
Author(s):  
Noni Setyorini ◽  
Ika Indriasari

This study aims to determine the effect of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control of interest in investing. This research use theory of planned behavior to explain how behavior is formed through attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in taking investment decision. This research uses online survey data collection methods. Sampling uses the convenient sampling method. Data (questionnaire) which can be used as many as 100 data and using multiple regression analysis as the test tool. The results showed that the attitude variable has not a significant effect towards investing interest in the capital market, while subjective and perceived norms behavioral control has influenced investment interest in the capital market.  Based on the research findings, it is advisable to use persuasion that emphasizes the involvement of those closest to potential investors. In addition, seminars organized by IDX and the government will greatly help increase investor knowledge, thereby increasing one's investment power control.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 9134
Author(s):  
Hyun Hye Kim ◽  
EunKyoung Han

Using the extended theory of planned behavior, this study examined individuals’ cognitive and psychological determinants of their intentions to donate to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) with either a positive or negative chief executive officer (CEO) reputation. With the use of online survey data (n = 371), the similarities and differences in the relationships between the determinants were analyzed for the two NPO CEO reputations. To verify the hypotheses, multiple regression was used to analyze the data. The results reveal that for NPOs with positive CEO reputations, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, moral norms, past behavior, and identification had positive effects on the intention to donate. In contrast, for NPOs with negative CEO reputations, subjective norms and identification had positive effects on the intention to donate. Attitude toward the NPO was not related to donation intentions regardless of the CEO’s reputation. These findings suggest the need for strategies to increase the public’s intentions to donate to problematic NPOs with negative reputations. Additionally, a strategy to further strengthen the intention to donate in the case of a positive CEO reputation is proposed. Theoretical and managerial implications of the results are also discussed, highlighting important considerations for CEO reputations and NPO management in the short and long terms.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1213-1217
Author(s):  
Jovana Džoljić ◽  
Ljiljana Đorđević

Food and Agricultural Organization as a “sweeteners” consider products used for sweetening derived from sugar crops, cereals, fruits or milk, or that are produced by insects. Sweeteners, as an additive, have important role for technological functions of food, especially in providing texture, bulk and color, and also as preservative agents. Regardless the numerous sweeteners, alternative sweeteners to sucrose are in main focus for implementation in food industry. Nowadays Food and Agricultural Organization and World Health Organization Food standards, Codex Alimentarius Commission (2018) accepted list of 27 food additives that have the functional class “sweetener”. Nowadays, alternative sweeteners and their application in food technology are in main focus of scientist. Stevia plant stands for one of the most important natural intense sweetener, since stevia glycosides are almost 400 times sweeter than sucrose. Extracts of stevia represents a powerful tool for reducing sugars in food and beverages, which can be acceptable substitutes to full sugar versions of this products. Regarding the data of Euromonitor international, new food products containing stevia grew 10% from 2016 to 2017. The biggest increment in stevia use was noticed in categories of snacks, juice drinks, dairy, carbonated soft drinks and confectionery. Barriocanal et al. (2008) highlighted that safety studies reported no negative side effects of stevia use. Can be expected that in recent future use of S. rebaudiana as sweetener would be extended to almost all the world’s countries, regarding all discovered beneficial health effects.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng-Wei Wang ◽  
Wei-Hsin Lu ◽  
Yi-Lung Chen ◽  
Dian-Jeng Li ◽  
Yu-Ping Chang ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a ‘public health emergency of international concern. Both worry and anxiety are the common psychological impact during the pandemic. The level of and determinants for worry and anxiety during COVID-19 are not well explored. OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to explore the associations of demographic and environmental factors with worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety among people in Taiwan. METHODS In total, 1970 respondents were recruited through a Facebook advertisement and completed an online survey on worry toward COVID-19, general anxiety during the pandemic, and individual and environmental factors. RESULTS In total, 51.7% and 43.4% of respondents reported high levels of worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety, respectively. Worse self-rated mental health, lower self-confidence in COVID-19 management, and insufficient mental health resources were significantly associated with high levels of both worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety. Lower perceived confidence in COVID-19 management by the regional government was significantly associated with a higher level of worry toward COVID-19. Lower perceived social support was significantly associated with a higher level of general anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS The results showed that high levels of worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety were prevalent during the disease outbreak. Multiple individual and environmental factors related to worry toward COVID-19 and general anxiety were identified. CLINICALTRIAL


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