IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jmathe/v11y2023i3p696-d1051196.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

When Less Is More: Understanding the Adoption of a Minimalist Lifestyle Using the Theory of Planned Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Druică

    (Department of Applied Economics and Quantitative Analysis, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Rodica Ianole-Călin

    (Department of Applied Economics and Quantitative Analysis, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania)

  • Andreea-Ionela Puiu

    (Department of Applied Economics and Quantitative Analysis, University of Bucharest, 030018 Bucharest, Romania)

Abstract

Minimalism is a promising approach that supports consumers’ shift towards sustainable behaviors, with the perks of increasing emotional well-being. To understand which socio-psychological factors and intrinsic values determine the adoption of a minimalist lifestyle, we employ an extended framework of the theory of planned behavior to investigate the drivers behind the adoption intention. We test, through a partial least squares path modelling analysis, a structural model that depicts: (i) the influences of value orientations (altruistic, bioshperic, and egoistic) on attitudes; and (ii) the influence of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on intention. The results indicate positive effects for all examined relationships, with effect sizes highlighting that attitudes and altruistic values should be prioritized in practical interventions that support a sustainable behavior. Surprisingly, we find a positive effect also for egoistic values, suggestive of the need for future cross-cultural research on minimalism and sustainability in Central and Eastern Europe.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Druică & Rodica Ianole-Călin & Andreea-Ionela Puiu, 2023. "When Less Is More: Understanding the Adoption of a Minimalist Lifestyle Using the Theory of Planned Behavior," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:11:y:2023:i:3:p:696-:d:1051196
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/11/3/696/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7390/11/3/696/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Delgado, Michael S. & Harriger, Jessica L. & Khanna, Neha, 2015. "The value of environmental status signaling," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 1-11.
    2. Emel Yarimoglu & Tugrul Gunay, 2020. "The extended theory of planned behavior in Turkish customers' intentions to visit green hotels," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1097-1108, March.
    3. Sheth, Jagdish, 2020. "Impact of Covid-19 on consumer behavior: Will the old habits return or die?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 280-283.
    4. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    5. J. W. Bolderdijk & L. Steg & E. S. Geller & P. K. Lehman & T. Postmes, 2013. "Comparing the effectiveness of monetary versus moral motives in environmental campaigning," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 413-416, April.
    6. Julia Sophie Woersdorfer, 2010. "When Do Social Norms Replace Status‐Seeking Consumption? An Application To The Consumption Of Cleanliness," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(1), pages 35-67, February.
    7. Perlaviciute, G. & Steg, L., 2015. "The influence of values on evaluations of energy alternatives," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 259-267.
    8. Daniel Roos & Rüdiger Hahn, 2019. "Understanding Collaborative Consumption: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior with Value-Based Personal Norms," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(3), pages 679-697, September.
    9. Camilla Barbarossa & Patrick Pelsmacker, 2016. "Positive and Negative Antecedents of Purchasing Eco-friendly Products: A Comparison Between Green and Non-green Consumers," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 134(2), pages 229-247, March.
    10. Miriam Meissner, 2019. "Against accumulation: lifestyle minimalism, de-growth and the present post-ecological condition," Journal of Cultural Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(3), pages 185-200, May.
    11. Zasuwa, Grzegorz, 2016. "Do the ends justify the means? How altruistic values moderate consumer responses to corporate social initiatives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3714-3719.
    12. Charles Ka Yui Leung & Joe Cho Yiu Ng & Edward Chi Ho Tang, 2020. "What do we know about housing supply? The case of Hong Kong SAR," Economic and Political Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(1), pages 6-20, January.
    13. Brown, Paul M. & Cameron, Linda D., 2000. "What can be done to reduce overconsumption?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 27-41, January.
    14. Shuai Yang & Lei Li & Jiemin Zhang, 2018. "Understanding Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption Intention at China’s Double-11 Online Shopping Festival: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Eric J. Arnould, 2007. "Should Consumer Citizens Escape the Market?," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 611(1), pages 96-111, May.
    16. Fatos Goksen & Fikret Adaman & Unal Zenginobuz, 2001. "On Environmental Concern, Willingness to Pay, and Postmaterialist Values: Evidence from Istanbul," Working Papers 2001/10, Bogazici University, Department of Economics.
    17. Kotchen, Matthew J. & Reiling, Stephen D., 2000. "Environmental attitudes, motivations, and contingent valuation of nonuse values: a case study involving endangered species," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 93-107, January.
    18. Ojea, Elena & Loureiro, Maria L., 2007. "Altruistic, egoistic and biospheric values in willingness to pay (WTP) for wildlife," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(4), pages 807-814, September.
    19. Pangarkar, Aniruddha & Shukla, Paurav & Taylor, Charles R. “Ray”, 2021. "Minimalism in consumption: A typology and brand engagement strategies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 167-178.
    20. Paul, Justin & Modi, Ashwin & Patel, Jayesh, 2016. "Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 123-134.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Andreea-Ionela Puiu & Rodica Ianole-Călin & Elena Druică, 2023. "Exploring the Consumer Acceptance of Nano Clothing Using a PLS-SEM Analysis," Stats, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-19, October.
    2. Viktorija Grigaliūnaitė & Aušra Pažėraitė & Mantautas Račkauskas, 2023. "Save Myself or Others? The Influence of Attitude toward FMCG Products from Recycled Material on the Intention to Buy Them: Hidden Motives and the Role of Income," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-17, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Nguyen, The Ninh & Lobo, Antonio & Greenland, Steven, 2016. "Pro-environmental purchase behaviour: The role of consumers' biospheric values," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 98-108.
    2. Han-Shen Chen & Chia-Hsing Liang & Shu-Yi Liao & Hung-Yu Kuo, 2020. "Consumer Attitudes and Purchase Intentions toward Food Delivery Platform Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Bhardwaj, Seema & Sreen, Naman & Das, Manish & Chitnis, Asmita & Kumar, Sushant, 2023. "Product specific values and personal values together better explains green purchase," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    4. Verma, Vivek Kumar & Chandra, Bibhas & Kumar, Sumit, 2019. "Values and ascribed responsibility to predict consumers' attitude and concern towards green hotel visit intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 206-216.
    5. Ju Hyoung Han & Andy S. Choi & Chi-Ok Oh, 2018. "The Effects of Environmental Value Orientations and Experience-Use History on the Conservation Value of a National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-17, September.
    6. Nketiah, Emmanuel & Song, Huaming & Obuobi, Bright & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Adjei, Mavis & Cudjoe, Dan, 2022. "Citizens' willingness to pay for local anaerobic digestion energy: The influence of altruistic value and knowledge," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    7. Waris, Idrees & Hameed, Irfan, 2019. "Using Extended Model of Theory of Planned Behavior to Predict Purchase Intention of Energy Efficient Home Appliances in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 109612, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Babutsidze, Zakaria & Chai, Andreas, 2018. "Look at me Saving the Planet! The Imitation of Visible Green Behavior and its Impact on the Climate Value-Action Gap," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 290-303.
    9. Taneja, Shilpa & Ali, Liaqat, 2021. "Determinants of customers’ intentions towards environmentally sustainable banking: Testing the structural model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    10. Ting Chi & Jenisha Gerard & Alison Dephillips & Hang Liu & Jing Sun, 2019. "Why U.S. Consumers Buy Sustainable Cotton Made Collegiate Apparel? A Study of the Key Determinants," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-15, June.
    11. Francesco Testa & Gaia Pretner & Roberta Iovino & Guia Bianchi & Sara Tessitore & Fabio Iraldo, 2021. "Drivers to green consumption: a systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4826-4880, April.
    12. Marjolein C. J. Caniëls & Wim Lambrechts & Johannes (Joost) Platje & Anna Motylska-Kuźma & Bartosz Fortuński, 2021. "50 Shades of Green: Insights into Personal Values and Worldviews as Drivers of Green Purchasing Intention, Behaviour, and Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-18, April.
    13. Hoang Viet Nguyen & Ninh Nguyen & Bach Khoa Nguyen & Steven Greenland, 2021. "Sustainable Food Consumption: Investigating Organic Meat Purchase Intention by Vietnamese Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, January.
    14. Ho, Thi Thu & Huynh, Cong Minh, 2022. "Green Purchase Intention: An Investigation from Vietnamese Young Consumers," MPRA Paper 112355, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Moeun Saut & Tithdane Saing, 2021. "Factors affecting consumer purchase intention towards environmentally friendly products: a case of generation Z studying at universities in Phnom Penh," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(6), pages 1-20, June.
    16. Mosa Aseri & Zaid Ahmad Ansari, 2023. "Purchase Behaviour of Green Footwear in Saudi Arabia Using Theory of Planned Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Ranran Shi & Ling Hou & Binghui Jia & Yaya Jin & Weiwei Zheng & Xiangdong Wang & Xianhui Hou, 2022. "Effect of Policy Cognition on the Intention of Villagers’ Withdrawal from Rural Homesteads," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, August.
    18. Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi, 2022. "Examining Drivers of Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behavior: Theory of Planned Behavior Extended with Cultural Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, July.
    19. Syed Shah Alam & Cheng-Kun Wang & Mohammad Masukujjaman & Ismail Ahmad & Chieh-Yu Lin & Yi-Hui Ho, 2023. "Buying Behaviour towards Eco-Labelled Food Products: Mediation Moderation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-20, January.
    20. Lidia Alexa & Andreea Apetrei & Juan Sapena, 2021. "The COVID-19 Lockdown Effect on the Intention to Purchase Sustainable Brands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-16, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jmathe:v:11:y:2023:i:3:p:696-:d:1051196. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.