Does variety in hedonic spending improve happiness? Testing alternative causal mechanisms between hedonic variety and subjective well-being.
BMC psychology
Previous research has found only a small, inconsistent association between hedonic consumption and subjective well-being, often attributed to individuals adapting to the happiness gains from their purchases. Given that diverse experiences can reduce or avert hedonic adaptation, we hypothesized that variety in hedonic spending would be associated with greater well-being. This hypothesis was tested in four studies (total N = 2,920), using both self-reported and objective bank-reported spending data. In our correlational analyses, hedonic spending variety was uniquely associated with well-being, even after controlling for total hedonic spending and other financial variables. Our investigation also explored the directional relationship between hedonic spending variety and well-being, yielding mixed results for both causal pathways in two time-lagged panel studies. Additionally, in two parallel experiments, participants reported that varied hedonic spending contributed more to happiness than uniform hedonic spending. These findings have implications for basic well-being science by testing how varied consumption behaviors and well-being are interrelated.
10.1186/s40359-024-01599-8
A three-factor benefits framework for understanding consumer preference for scented household products: psychological interactions and implications for future development.
Cognitive research: principles and implications
Humans have deliberately scented their environment for purpose or pleasure for millennia. In the contemporary marketplace most consumers prefer and purchase scented versions of common household products. However, the drivers of this consumer preference have not been elucidated. To explain the attraction to scent in household products we propose a novel three-factor framework, comprising functional benefits (malodor mitigation, base odor coverage, freshening), in-use experience benefits (cleanliness, efficacy, pleasure), and emotional benefits (increasing in confidence, mood and nostalgia). To support this framework, we present new data from a market research survey on US consumer purchasing habits and attitudes towards home cleaning, laundry, and air freshening products. Further substantiating our framework, a focused review of olfactory psychological science illustrating the central role of scent in cognition, wellbeing, motivated behavior, and social behavior, as well as sensory marketing research highlights the benefits and implications of scent in consumer household products. Based on our three-factor framework we go on to discuss the potential for scent to influence health and raise issues to consider (such as potential negative responding to fragranced products). We conclude by showcasing new opportunities for future research in olfactory science and on scented household products that can advance the positive impacts of scent.
10.1186/s41235-022-00378-6
Socio-cognitive determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption among young people: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Appetite
The overconsumption of sugar sweetened beverages is an increasing public health concern. Understanding the socio-cognitive determinants that drive such consumption could inform the development of interventions to reduce sugar sweetened beverage consumption. The aim of the present review and meta-analysis was to determine the strength of associations between socio-cognitive determinants and the amount and frequency of sugar sweetened beverage consumption among young people. A systematic review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. A search was performed using the following databases: PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, ProQuest, and PubMed. The key search terms were: (1) children, adolescents, young adults; (2) sugar sweetened beverage consumption, choice or purchasing behaviour; and (3) socio-cognitive determinants related to sugar sweetened beverage consumption. The search identified 4325 papers, with 22 papers remaining after screening. Two separate meta-analyses were performed, one for amount (n = 14) and one for frequency (n = 8) of consumption. The most strongly associated determinants with amount of sugar sweetened beverage consumed were habit, intention to consume, and attitudes, whereas the most strongly associated determinants with frequency of consumption were intentions, injunctive norms, and descriptive norms. Comparisons between the meta-analyses revealed two distinct differences: injunctive norms were more strongly correlated with frequency of consumption, and self-efficacy with amount consumed. It was suggested that interventions that focus on multiple determinants, including components of the Theory of Planned Behaviour may result in the largest reductions in consumption. Specifically, focussing on changing attitudes, norms and habits, and increasing perceived behavioural control related to sugar sweetened beverages may be maximally effective in reducing consumption behaviour.
10.1016/j.appet.2022.106334
The Influence of Front-of-Package Nutrition Labeling on Consumer Behavior and Product Reformulation.
Roberto Christina A,Ng Shu Wen,Ganderats-Fuentes Montserrat,Hammond David,Barquera Simon,Jauregui Alejandra,Taillie Lindsey Smith
Annual review of nutrition
Countries worldwide have implemented mandatory or voluntary front-of-package nutrition labeling systems. We provide a narrative review of () real-world evaluations of front-of-package nutrition labels that analyze objective sales data and () studies that objectively assess product reformulation in response to a front-of-package nutrition label implementation. We argue that there is sufficient scientific evidence to recommend that governments implement mandatory front-of-package nutrition labeling systems to improvepopulation health. We also present a conceptual framework to describe front-of-package label influence and provide recommendations for the optimal label design, emphasizing that labeling systems should be highly visible and salient, be simple and easy to understand, leverage automatic associations, and integrate informational and emotional messaging. The existing research suggests that Guideline Daily Amount labels should be avoided and that the Health Star Rating and Nutri-Score systems are promising but that systems with warning labels like the one in Chile are likely to produce the largest public health benefits.
10.1146/annurev-nutr-111120-094932
The Influence of Packaging Color on Consumer Perceptions of Healthfulness: A Systematic Review and Theoretical Framework.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
When consumers evaluate a new product, packaging design plays a critical role. In particular, packaging color is a dominant design cue that influences consumer perception of a product. Several studies have investigated the influence of color on taste. However, there is limited research on the influence of packaging color on consumer health perception. As healthy eating is a focus for many consumers and public decision-makers, more knowledge is needed. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of empirical studies that have investigated the influence of packaging color on consumers' health perceptions and to provide a psychological explanation for the observed effects. The systematic review includes 20 empirical studies across different product groups. The results show that packaging color influences consumers' health perceptions. We argue that the influence of packaging color on consumer health perceptions can be explained by the following mechanisms, which are not mutually exclusive: (1) consumers rely on a color as an explicit signal for health; (2) colors are associated with beliefs that indirectly influence health assessments; and (3) colors trigger mental simulations that influence health assessments. In addition, we provide suggestions for further research that will contribute to a better understanding of when and how packaging color can help consumers make healthier food choices.
10.3390/foods12213911
Evolution of Milk Consumption and Its Psychological Determinants: A Mini-Review.
Castellini Greta,Graffigna Guendalina
Frontiers in nutrition
The consumption of lactose-free products and in particular lactose-free milk is increasing worldwide. Although many studies claim that this dietary trend is mainly determined by the number of lactose intolerant people that is growing, others state that most of them self-report an intolerance that has not been diagnosed by medical tests. However, many researchers reported that the consumption of lactose-free milk may put the consumers' health at risk especially when the subjects are not intolerant. Consequently, understanding this new dietary trend considering its main determinants it is necessary to generate educational and intervention campaigns useful to guide people toward healthier and more adequate eating styles. For these reasons we conducted a narrative mini review to summarize the factors contributing to the consumption of lactose-free milk as an alternative to cow's milk, exploring intrinsic and extrinsic product characteristics, biological and physiological, as well as psychological, situational and socio-cultural factors. This narrative mini-review shows that there are six categories of factors that affect the consumption of lactose-free milk. In particular, the intrinsic aspects linked to the product and the socio-demographic characteristics of the consumer are the most explored. On the contrary, situational and socio-cultural factors are the least studied. Finally, this study argues that there are too few studies that investigates the emotional, identity and social aspects underlying these food choices, suggesting the development of future research that investigate the implicit consumer subjective levers to decipher lactose-free milk consumptions.
10.3389/fnut.2022.845154
The psychology of luxury consumption.
Dubois David,Jung SungJin,Ordabayeva Nailya
Current opinion in psychology
This review synthesizes the latest advances in the psychology behind consumption of luxury objects and experiences to which people typically feel strongly attached. We discuss novel drivers, forms, and consequences of luxury consumption from recent research. We propose that the psychology of luxury consumption is governed by a set of tensions between what luxury means to the self and the external forces that define luxury consumption. These tensions shape consumer behavior, from the level of desire for luxury products and services, to the types of signals viewed as luxury and acquired and displayed as such, and to post-consumption consequences of consuming luxury. We discuss how this tension-based framework offers future opportunities for the study of the drivers, forms, and consequences of luxury consumption.
10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.07.011
Mining affective experience for a kansei design study on a recliner.
Kim Wonjoon,Ko Taehoon,Rhiu Ilsun,Yun Myung Hwan
Applied ergonomics
As the technical performance of products progresses, it is becoming more important to design products that satisfy customers' affective experiences. Hence, many studies about Kansei engineering or Kansei design have been conducted to develop products that can satisfy customers' affective experiences. In the Kansei design method, it is important to select affective variables related to the design elements of the product in order to accurately grasp the emotions of customers. Therefore, this study seeks to develop an affective variable extraction methodology that can reflect users' implicit needs effectively and efficiently. In this study, users' affective variables were extracted from online reviews and classified using a self-organizing map (SOM). For verification, the study selected the Amazon e-commerce service and performed a product experiment on recliners. The experimental results show that the most frequently used affective variable in the use of recliners is 'comfort', which is related to various affective variables. In addition, 15 clusters for affective experiences of recliners extracted from Amazon.com were classified through the SOM. The findings suggest that text mining techniques and the SOM can be used to gather and analyze customers' affective experiences effectively and efficiently. The results of this study can also enhance an understanding of customers' emotions regarding recliners.
10.1016/j.apergo.2018.08.014