The Influence of Family Socioeconomic Status on Adolescent Consumption Preferences: A Consumer Socialization Theory Approach

Adolescence represents a pivotal period in which individuals undergo intensive consumer socialization, with their consumption preferences and behaviors being profoundly shaped by the family environment. Family socioeconomic status (FSSS), as a fundamental dimension of family background, exerts a substantial influence on adolescents' attitudes toward consumption, their perceptions of brands, and the patterns by which they make purchasing decisions. This influence manifests through multiple mechanisms, including the provision of economic and informational resources, socialization practices within the household, and the transmission of cultural and value-based norms. Grounded in consumer socialization theory, the present study explores how variations in family socioeconomic status affect adolescents' consumption preferences across functional, symbolic, and experiential dimensions. Specifically, it examines the role of key socialization channels, such as patterns of family communication, parental guidance, and media usage behaviors, in mediating these effects. The findings indicate that adolescents from different socioeconomic backgrounds experience diverse socialization practices, which in turn foster stratified consumption preferences, reflecting both the tangible resources available and the intangible values instilled by families. Furthermore, higher socioeconomic families tend to provide greater exposure to branded products, encourage active discussion and critical evaluation of consumption decisions, and facilitate media engagement that enhances awareness of consumption trends, whereas lower socioeconomic families may focus more on practical and necessity-driven consumption guidance. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of the socialization processes that shape adolescent consumer behavior, highlighting the interplay between structural family conditions and social learning mechanisms. From a practical perspective, the research offers guidance for family-based education on responsible consumption, informs targeted marketing strategies that account for socioeconomic segmentation, and supports the development of consumer education programs aimed at cultivating informed and reflective consumption habits among young individuals. Overall, this study underscores the importance of considering family socioeconomic status in both academic and applied analyses of adolescent consumer behavior, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding how familial and social environments coalesce to influence the formation of consumption preferences during a critical developmental stage.