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Do Health, Environmental and Ethical Concerns Affect Purchasing Behavior? A Meta-Analysis and Narrative Review

Author

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  • Wan Nie

    (Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK)

  • Antonieta Medina-Lara

    (Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK)

  • Hywel Williams

    (College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QF, UK
    Alan Turing Institute, 96 Euston Rd, London NW1 2DB, UK)

  • Richard Smith

    (Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK)

Abstract

Much attention has been given to how we can make consumption more responsible—better for the planet and society. However, research on the associations between consumer purchasing behavior and their psychological concern for health, the environment and ethics lacks consensus on the significance and directionality of these concerns. This study aims to examine how (relatively) important these concerns are in determining consumer purchasing behavior. Systematic searches were conducted in PubMed, EconLit, Web of Science and Scopus databases from 2000 to 2020. Results were summarized through narrative synthesis of the evidence and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between health, environmental and ethical concerns and purchasing behavior, indicating that changes in health, environmental and ethical concerns will result in a consistent shift in purchase behavior towards choices consistent with the concern. This association is susceptible to moderating factors including types of products (food, non-food and non-specific products) and country’s level of economic development. In addition, the health, environmental and ethical concerns appear to have a weaker impact on the actual purchase behavior than on purchase intention, suggesting that interventions should focus on translating these “purchasing intentions” into actual purchasing behaviors. Narrative review of the studies that were not subject to meta-analysis showed good agreement, with almost all relationships reported having the same direction as those indicated by the meta-analysis. Overall, this study suggests that there is substantial potential for marketing strategies aimed at encouraging pro-health, pro-environment and ethical purchasing behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Wan Nie & Antonieta Medina-Lara & Hywel Williams & Richard Smith, 2021. "Do Health, Environmental and Ethical Concerns Affect Purchasing Behavior? A Meta-Analysis and Narrative Review," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:11:p:413-:d:664521
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Veronica Marozzo & Alessandra Costa & Tindara Abbate, 2024. "The relationship between the perceived product sustainability of organic food and willingness to buy: a parallel mediation effect of product traceability and consumers’ environmental concerns," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2024(4), pages 375-393, December.

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