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A Sustainable Pathway to Consumer Wellbeing. The Role of Anticonsumption and Consumer Empowerment

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  • Ingo Balderjahn
  • Michael S.W. Lee
  • Barbara Seegebarth
  • Mathias Peyer

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of different anticonsumption constructs on consumer wellbeing. The study assumes that people will only lower their level of consumption if doing so does not also lower personal wellbeing. More precisely, this research investigates how specific subtypes of sustainable anticonsumption (e.g., voluntary simplicity, collaborative consumption, and debt‐free living) relate to different states of consumer's wellbeing (e.g., financial, psychosocial, and subjective wellbeing). This work also examines whether consumer empowerment can improve personal wellbeing and strengthen the anticonsumption wellbeing relationship. The results show that voluntarily foregoing consumption does not reduce wellbeing and consumer empowerment plays a significant role in supporting sustainable pathways to consumer wellbeing. This study reasons that empowerment improves consumer sovereignty, but may be detrimental for consumers heavily concerned about debt‐free living. The present investigation concludes by proposing implications for public and consumer policymakers wishing to promote appropriate sustainable (anticonsumption) pathways to consumer wellbeing.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingo Balderjahn & Michael S.W. Lee & Barbara Seegebarth & Mathias Peyer, 2020. "A Sustainable Pathway to Consumer Wellbeing. The Role of Anticonsumption and Consumer Empowerment," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(2), pages 456-488, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:54:y:2020:i:2:p:456-488
    DOI: 10.1111/joca.12278
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. F. Ziesemer & A. Hüttel & I. Balderjahn, 2021. "Young People as Drivers or Inhibitors of the Sustainability Movement: The Case of Anti-Consumption," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 427-453, September.
    3. Laura Therese Heinl & Anna Baatz & Markus Beckmann & Peter Wehnert, 2021. "Investigating Sustainable NGO–firm Partnerships: An Experimental Study of Consumer Perception of Co-Branded Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    4. Stephen G. Saunders & Srinivas Sridharan & Dani J. Barrington & Regina Souter & Katherine F. Shields & Semisi Meo & Jamie K. Bartram, 2021. "Consumer marketplaces and self‐sufficiency: Meeting consumption needs in community," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(4), pages 1691-1711, December.
    5. Steven S. Chan & Michelle Van Solt & Ryan E. Cruz & Matthew Philp & Shalini Bahl & Nuket Serin & Nelson Borges Amaral & Robert Schindler & Abbey Bartosiak & Smriti Kumar & Murad Canbulut, 2022. "Social media and mindfulness: From the fear of missing out (FOMO) to the joy of missing out (JOMO)," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(3), pages 1312-1331, September.
    6. Veronica L. Thomas & Hooman Mirahmad & Grace Kemper, 2022. "The role of response efficacy and risk aversion in promoting compliance during crisis," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(4), pages 1454-1474, December.
    7. Tommaso Gallo & Francesco Pacchera & Chiara Cagnetti & Cecilia Silvestri, 2023. "Do Sustainable Consumers Have Sustainable Behaviors? An Empirical Study to Understand the Purchase of Food Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-21, March.
    8. Samer Sarofim & Ahmed Tolba & Morris Kalliny, 2022. "The effect of religiosity on customer's response to service failure: Belief‐in‐fate, forgiveness, and emotional wellbeing," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 465-486, March.
    9. Sue Cronshaw, 2022. "Web workouts and consumer well‐being: The role of digital‐physical activity during the UK COVID‐19 lockdown," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 449-464, March.
    10. Alexandra Hüttel & Ingo Balderjahn, 2022. "The coronavirus pandemic: A window of opportunity for sustainable consumption or a time of turning away?," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(1), pages 68-96, March.

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