Excessive Food Buying in Saudi Arabia Amid Covid-19

Examining the Effects of Perceived Severity, Religiosity, Consumption Culture and Attitude toward Behavior

Bibliographic Data

ID15489141
AuthorsAbu Elnasr E Sobaih (0000-0002-2730-689X, University of Business and Technology, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue4
Pages3126-3126
Publication date2023-02-10
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20043126
PMID36833820
OpenAlexW4320080430
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited44

The current study builds on both the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) to examine why consumers in Saudi Arabia engage in excessive food-buying behavior amid COVID-19. The study tests the direct impact of food consumption culture, perceived severity of COVID-19, and religiosity on excessive food-buying intentions and the indirect effect through attitudes toward excessive food buying. The results of the inner model using SmartPLS4 showed that the perceived severity of COVID-19 has a direct significant positive effect on attitudes toward excessive food buying and excessive food-buying intention. Despite food consumption culture being found to have no direct significant effect on excessive food-buying intention during the pandemic, it has a direct effect on attitudes toward excessive food buying. Surprisingly, religiosity was found to have a positive effect on consumers' attitudes and excessive food-buying intentions. The results confirm that consumers misunderstood Islamic religious principles regarding food consumption, which does not accept excessive buying or food waste. Attitudes toward excessive food buying were found to mediate the relationship between food consumption culture, perceived severity of COVID-19, religiosity, and excessive food-buying intention. The results of the study are discussed and implications are highlighted for academics and policymakers

Agricultural economics · Business · Consumption (sociology · Control (management · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Economics · Food consumption · Religiosity · Sociology · Theory of planned behavior · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability · Halal products and consumer behavior · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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