Determinants of Frugal Behavior: The Influences of Consciousness for Sustainable Consumption, Materialism, and the Consideration of Future Consequences

Abstract

The transition toward sustainability and the adjustment to climate change should involve the reduction of consumption behavior and the need to maintain social practices of frugality. This paper investigates the influences of consciousness for sustainable consumption (CSC), materialism, and the consideration of future consequences (CFC) on frugal behaviors. Four-hundred-and-forty-four individuals responded to an instrument investigating these variables. Results of a structural model revealed that materialism significantly and negatively influenced the three dimensions of CSC: economic, environmental, and social. The consideration of distant future consequences positively and significantly affected the economic dimension of CSC. Frugal behavior received significant and positive influences from the three CSC dimensions and from consideration of distant future consequences. The model explained 46% of variance in frugal behavior, revealing the importance of awareness of the consequences of resource consumption and the CFC has on promoting a moderate consumption of resources.

The Influence of Environmental Self-Identity on the Relationship between Consumer Identities and Frugal Behavior

“…The model as a whole, including the three consumer identities and environmental selfidentity, was able to predict a high amount of the variance of frugal behavior (47.9%). When analyzing the influence of the three consumer identities, it was the thrifty identity that had the strongest influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 1 is partially supported), highlighting the economic nature of this type of behavior, in line with previous evidence [15]. As expected, wasteful consumer identity had a negative influence on frugal behavior (Hypothesis 2 is supported); the more an individual identifies as a wasteful consumer, the less likely they are to engage in frugal consumption practices.…”

“…A recent study exploring the influence of consciousness for sustainable consumption on frugal behavior found mixed results [15]. Consciousness was measured by three factors: (a) environmental consciousness, centered on the responsible awareness of environmentally friendly consumption; (b) social consciousness, focused on socially responsible and fair consumption; and (c) economic consciousness, anchored on the effort to consume in a manner that protects long-term economic well-being.…”

Economic Inequality Increases Status Anxiety Through Perceived Contextual Competitiveness

“…In the same vein, disseminating alternative normative messages oriented at reducing perceived competition based on material resources, and at increasing cooperation among low and middle classes for a general improvement in quality life, would contribute to building more cohesive and resilient societies. Messages promoting frugal behavior rather than materialism ( Suárez et al, 2020 ), for instance, could defuel the SA normative climate, as well as political movements based on shared identities among low and middle classes.…”

Influencia de la religiosidad, la norma subjetiva y la efectividad percibida del consumidor en el consumo socialmente responsable

“…El surgimiento de este concepto se presentó en la década de los sesenta para contrarrestar la visión del consumo normal, el cual puede ser entendido como la conciencia social de un individuo (Suárez et al, 2020) que tiene en cuenta las consecuencias públicas de su consumo privado como una construcción psicológica de participación social, donde, a través del poder adquisitivo, se pretende lograr un cambio en la sociedad, atendiendo su preocupación por los problemas sociales y ambientales (Lim et al, 2019), conocidos principalmente gracias a los movimientos medioambientalistas de la época (Webster, 1975).…”