The dark side of online food delivery
Evidence of impulsive consumption behavior
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21284451 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Yang Liu (0000-0003-1220-7044, Nanzan University, corresponding author), Luchen Huang (0000-0002-9157-1110, North West Agriculture and Forestry University), Kazumitsu Minamikawa (Nanzan University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 267 |
| Pages | 107102 |
| Publication date | 2026-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Acta Psychologica (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297 |
| Publisher | Elsevier BV (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107102 |
| PMID | 42161130 |
| OpenAlex | W7161762961 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 44 |
Impulsive consumption in the online food delivery scenario has received increasing attention from academia, but the mechanism by which individual differences affect this behavior remains unclear. Based on Prospect Theory and Self-Control Theory, this study explores the impact of price sensitivity on impulsive consumption, and clarifies the psychological mechanism and boundary conditions of the interaction between the two. Through three scenario experiments, this study finds that individuals with higher price sensitivity have stronger impulsive consumption tendencies. Further analysis shows that coupon proneness plays a partial mediating role between the two: price-sensitive consumers are more likely to notice coupon-type promotions and attach importance to their value, which in turn reinforces impulsive consumption. In addition, self-control can weaken the positive correlation between price sensitivity and coupon proneness, but cannot significantly reduce the direct impact of price sensitivity on impulsive consumption. The above results indicate that although self-regulation can reduce individuals' responses to promotional cues, once consumption impulses are triggered, the restraining ability of self-control on behavior is relatively limited. Overall, this study clarifies the psychological path through which price sensitivity acts on impulsive consumption, and expands the combined application of Prospect Theory and Self-Control Theory in the digital catering consumption scenario
Consumption (sociology) · Demand side · Food consumption · Great Rift · Poison control · Consumer Retail Behavior Studies · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Technology Adoption and User Behaviour
Intention-behaviour gap and perceived behavioural control-behaviour gap in theory of planned behaviour
Advances in prospect theory
Prospect Theory
Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error
Message framing strategies, food waste prevention, and diners’ repatronage intentions
External or internal beauty? A study on the mechanism influencing food waste behavior
Rethinking the Measurement of Self-Control
Unravelling the dynamics of food waste and food delivery apps
Food Sharing Platforms as a Technology to Reduce Food Waste at Food Service Level
Convenience or price orientation? Consumer characteristics influencing food waste behaviour in the context of an emerging country and the impact on future sustainability of the global food sector
Consumer-related antecedents of food provisioning behaviors that promote food waste
Determinants of consumer food waste behaviour
The multi-factor structure of the Brief Self-Control Scale
The dark side of applying Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology
Replicating patterns of prospect theory for decision under risk
The Buying Impulse
How Do Consumers' Cultural Backgrounds and Values Influence Their Coupon Proneness? A Multimethod Investigation
| Highly cited | No |
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