Search Results (620)

This study investigates how Australian Zennials (born 1993–1999) navigate slow fashion consumption in a market dominated by fast fashion and affordability challenges. Using semi-structured interviews with 20 participants, it explores their motivations, barriers, and adaptive strategies. Findings reveal that Zennials are driven by ethical values, environmental awareness, and a preference for quality design, yet face constraints such as cost, limited access to sustainable brands, and skepticism toward greenwashing. Rather than a simple value–action gap, participants demonstrate creative solutions, most notably, strategic engagement with the second-hand market. This enables them to practice slow fashion ideals of durability, longevity, and mindful consumption in a cost-effective way. The study reframes the attitude–behavior gap by identifying Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC) as a key enabler, supported by knowledge, repair skills, and peer norms. These insights offer practical implications for brands, designers, and policymakers, positioning the second-hand economy as the central mechanism that operationalizes Zennial engagement with sustainable fashion. Full article

Global crises, from pandemics to geopolitical instability, intensify societal anxiety. Paradoxically, these periods of collective threat often witness surges in luxury consumption. Drawing on Terror Management Theory (TMT), we propose this behavior is a psychological response to the deindividuating nature of such threats. We argue that a collective crisis increases intentions to purchase luxury goods via an intensified need for uniqueness, which functions as a self-affirming mechanism against a threatened sense of personal identity. We test this model using the COVID-19 pandemic as a salient operationalization of a collective threat. We further propose that this effect is counterintuitively moderated by independent self-construal. Findings from an experimental study (N = 276) show that perceived crisis risk increases luxury purchase intention, and this effect is serially mediated by the need for uniqueness. Critically, this indirect effect is strongest for individuals low in independent self-construal, who are prompted to engage in compensatory uniqueness-seeking when their primary buffer of social connection is disrupted. Our findings contribute to consumer behavior research by identifying a novel psychological pathway linking collective threats to consumption and offer insights for brands navigating consumer behavior during periods of widespread uncertainty. Full article

Tourism is a key spatial process linking human mobility, resource consumption, and environmental change. Despite growing awareness of climate risks, sustainable travel behavior often remains inconsistent with pro-environmental attitudes, reflecting the persistent attitude–behavior gap. This study examines how psychological factors—sustainability motives, ecological identity, and climate attitudes—interact with artificial intelligence (AI) transparency to shape travel decisions with spatial and environmental consequences. Using survey data from 1795 leisure travelers and a discrete-choice experiment simulating hotel booking scenarios, the study shows that ecological identity and climate attitudes reinforce sustainability motives and intentions, while transparent AI recommendations enhance perceived clarity, data visibility, and reliability. These transparency effects amplify the influence of eco-scores on revealed spatial preferences, with trust mediating the relationship between transparency and sustainable choices. Conceptually, the study integrates psychological and technological perspectives within a geographical framework of human–environment interaction and extends this lens to rural destinations, where travel decisions directly affect cultural landscapes and climate-sensitive ecosystems. Practically, the findings demonstrate that transparent AI systems can guide spatial redistribution of tourist flows, mitigate destination-level climate pressures, and support equitable resource management in sustainable tourism planning. These mechanisms are particularly relevant for rural areas and traditional cultural landscapes facing heightened vulnerability to climate stress, depopulation, and uneven visitation patterns. Transparent and trustworthy AI can thus convert environmental awareness into spatially sustainable behavior, contributing to more resilient and balanced tourism geographies. Full article

Excessive sugar consumption has emerged as a significant public health concern, leading to growing interest in non-caloric, high-intensity sweeteners (HIS) as alternatives to conventional sugars. Cherry tomatoes, although inherently rich in lycopene, vitamin C, organic acids, and other health-promoting metabolites, are nonetheless perceived as insufficiently sweet by some consumers, particularly younger ones. Hence, sweeter fresh tomato options such as “stevia tomato” have recently gained popularity in Korea. Despite this trend, the effects of infusing HIS into fresh tomatoes on postharvest quality attributes, physiological responses, and sensory perception remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, this study investigated the effects of vacuum infusion of four HIS (glucosyl steviol glycosides (GSG), sucralose (SUC), acesulfame potassium (ACE), and sodium saccharin (SAC)) on the postharvest quality and ripening behavior of ‘TY Nonari’ cherry tomatoes. Fruits were infused under vacuum (0.2 bar, 23 °C) and analyzed for firmness, weight loss, ethylene production and respiration rates, colorimetric attributes, physico-chemical properties (TSS, TA, pH, TSS/TA), sensory quality, and microstructural characteristics using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Sweetener type significantly influenced tomato performance after vacuum infusion. GSG- and SAC-treated tomatoes exhibited the most rapid softening, with firmness decreasing from 10.25 to 5.66 N and from 9.97 to 5.53 N, respectively, by day 4. In contrast, ACE-treated fruit retained the highest firmness, decreasing from 9.62 to 7.89 N, followed by SUC, which declined from 10.00 to 6.67 N. Weight loss was also the highest in GSG (9.59%) and ACE (7.32%), whereas SUC (2.97%) and SAC (2.36%) showed markedly better water retention. Microstructural analysis corroborated these results: SAC-treated tomatoes exhibited severe cell wall degradation, with thickness decreasing from 8.22 to 4.24 μm, while GSG-treated fruit showed noticeable thinning from 8.33 to 6.39 μm. ACE maintained the thickest cell wall, decreasing from 8.83 to 7.19 μm, with SUC displaying intermediate preservation from 8.43 to 6.63 μm. Overall, ACE was the most effective treatment for preserving sensory quality, micro-structural integrity, and physicochemical attributes. These findings provide a scientific basis for selecting appropriate HIS to develop low-sugar, high-quality fruit products tailored to evolving consumer preferences. Full article

The study investigates Greek consumers’ beliefs and their assessment of the risks associated with consuming potatoes they perceive as contaminated with pesticide residues, aiming to understand the relationship between perceived risk and actual dietary exposure. A survey of 1318 participants was conducted, employing latent profile analysis to identify two distinct consumer profiles: Concerned Consumers, who prioritize certified products and exhibit lower potato consumption, and Confident Consumers, who demonstrate higher consumption levels and lower risk perception. Data from the consumer survey and the two-category grouping were benchmarked against data from the Greek report on pesticide residue monitoring in food to estimate exposure against established toxicological reference values. The results indicate that pesticide residues on potatoes in Greece remain significantly below established toxicological reference values, with mean exposures well within safety limits for both consumer groups. Despite the higher consumption among Confident Consumers, their exposure levels are still negligible. The findings highlight a disconnect between consumer perceptions of pesticide risk and actual exposure, suggesting that current agricultural practices are effective in safeguarding public health. This study underscores the importance of evidence-based risk communication to bridge the gap between consumer concerns and scientific reality, reinforcing the role of potatoes as a safe and essential food source. Full article

At the intersection of the circular economy and artificial intelligence (AI), high-value secondhand trading faces a “triple decision dilemma” of cognitive overload, trust risk, and emotional attachment. To address the limits of traditional human-centered theories, this study develops and empirically tests a novel framework of Algorithmic Empowerment. Drawing on data from 1396 users of Chinese secondhand luxury platforms and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the findings reveal that users’ empowerment perception arises from three dimensions—Algorithmic Connectivity (AC), Human–Agent Symbiotic Trust (HAST), and Algorithmic Value Alignment (AVA). This perceived empowerment affects participation willingness through two parallel pathways: the social pathway, where algorithmic curation shapes social norms and recognition, and the cognitive pathway, where AI enhances decision fluency and reduces cognitive friction. The results confirm the dual mediating effects of these mechanisms. This study advances understanding of human–AI collaboration in sustainable consumption by conceptualizing empowerment as the bridge linking algorithmic functions to user engagement, and provides actionable implications for designing AI systems that both enhance efficiency and foster user trust and identification. Full article

Objectives: This study evaluated the effects of acute and 28-day supplementation with a caffeine-based energy drink on energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and cognitive performance. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 33 males and 27 females (27 ± 8 years, 26.7 ± 2.2 m/kg²) consumed a caffeinated energy drink (200 mg; CAF) or placebo (PLA) for 28 days. Indirect calorimetry assessed energy expenditure and fat oxidation at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after ingestion on day 1 and 28. Cognition assessments (Dynavision reaction, Serial Sevens, Trail Making Test A (TMT-A) and B (TMT-B)) were performed at 0, 60, and 120 min. Results: On day 1, CAF demonstrated higher energy expenditure vs. PLA at 30 (p = 0.011), 60 (p = 0.001), 90 (p = 0.002), and 120 min (p < 0.001). On day 28, expenditure remained higher at 30 (p < 0.001), 60 (p = 0.019), and 90 min (p = 0.003). Comparing day 28 to day 1, CAF maintained greater energy expenditure at baseline (p = 0.031) with trends at 30 (p = 0.057) and 90 min (p = 0.051). Fat oxidation was greater with CAF only on day 1 at 60 (p = 0.019), 90 (p = 0.006), and 120 min (p = 0.012). On day 28, CAF showed more correct Dynavision hits (60, p = 0.002; 120, p = 0.003) and fewer misses (60, p = 0.003; 120, p = 0.005) vs. PLA. Faster reaction time occurred in CAF at 120 min on day 1 (p = 0.028), while serial subtraction showed trends toward higher counts in CAF (day 1: p = 0.079; day 28: p = 0.059). On day 28, CAF increased perceived focus and energy at 60 and 120 min (focus: p = 0.012, p = 0.026; energy: p = 0.005, p = 0.029). Alternatively, a trend for slower TMT-A performance emerged in CAF at 60 min on day 28 (p = 0.075), resulting in PLA having faster times across day 28 vs. day 1 comparisons (p = 0.033). Conclusions: Acute energy drink consumption enhances energy expenditure, fat oxidation, and some cognitive measures, while 28-day use sustains energy expenditure and select cognitive benefits. Full article

Environmental sustainability in tourism and hospitality has emerged as a critical focus of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, aligning with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and national priorities such as environmental stewardship, human health, and future economic diversification. This study examines how perceived leader favoritism influences non-green behavior among hospitality employees, exploring malicious envy as a mediator and perceived organizational injustice as a moderator. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 412 employees across five major hotels in Riyadh. Measures included validated scales for perceived leader favoritism, malicious envy, non-green behavior, and organizational justice. Structural equation modeling tested hypothesized relationships and moderation effects. Perceived leader favoritism was positively associated with non-green behavior (β = 0.39, p < 0.001) and malicious envy (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). Malicious envy mediated the favoritism–behavior link (indirect effect β = 0.17, p < 0.01). High perceptions of organizational injustice strengthened these effects, exacerbating environmentally harmful behaviors. Interpretation: The findings reveal that unfair leadership practices undermine corporate sustainability efforts by provoking negative emotions and unethical environmental actions. Managerial interventions to enhance fairness and mitigate envy are imperative for achieving SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), supporting Saudi Arabia’s goals in environmental sustainability, basic needs fulfillment, and future economies. Implementing justice-centered leadership programs can foster healthier organizational climates, promoting both employee well-being and ecological resilience. Full article

Background: Rhodiola rosea (RR) is marketed as an adaptogen; however, evidence for acute/short-term effects—and especially dose–response effects—in trained adults across performance and cognition is limited. Objective: Test whether RR improves resistance performance (strength, power) and executive function in resistance-trained adults using a randomized crossover with placebo and a capsule-free baseline. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial with four conditions—no-capsule control (CON), placebo (PL), low-dose RR (LDRR), and high-dose RR (HDRR). Twenty-seven resistance-trained adults completed the conditions. Day-7 testing included bench press (BP) and leg press (LP) 1-repetition maximum (1RM); a third set to failure at 60% 1RM with set-3 volume; Tendo mean/peak power; a 30 s Wingate; and the Stroop Color–Word Test. Secondary endpoints were Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Readiness to perform using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and hemodynamics. Results: Versus CON, LDRR increased BP 1RM (+5.59 kg; p = 0.003), set-3 repetitions (+4.30; p < 0.001), set-3 volume (+168.6 kg; p < 0.001), and mean power (+29.7 W; p = 0.026). HDRR increased set-3 repetitions (+2.78; p = 0.005) and peak power (+34.2 W; p = 0.026), with a trend for set-3 volume (p = 0.086). LP 1RM exceeded CON with LDRR (+35.7 kg; p < 0.001) and HDRR (+47.7 kg; p < 0.001); contrasts vs. PL were significant. Wingate outcomes showed no consistent effects. Stroop improved vs. CON across all sections: Word +10.5 to +17.4 counts (p < 0.05), Color +6.1 to +12.0 (p ≤ 0.03), and Color–Word +10.2 to +18.9 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Short-term RR consumption, regardless of dose or gender, improved resistance performance and significantly enhanced Stroop outcomes, with minimal changes in anaerobic cycling and RPE, and no consistent acute hemodynamic effects. Full article

Promoting the transformation of green consumption has emerged as a critical pathway to address ecological constraints. However, existing research exhibits significant discrepancies in understanding the relationship between green attributes and purchase intention and lacks a deep unpacking of the underlying individual psychological mechanisms. Employing three situational experiments, this study integrates the chain effects of green attribute centrality (GAC), environmental concern (EC), and green trust (GT) to systematically explore the formation mechanism of consumers’ green purchase decisions. Results show three key findings: (1) When consumers exhibit high EC, GAC enhances their green purchase intention (GPI) more effectively; however, when EC is low, GAC demonstrates no significant differential impact on GPI. (2) The interaction between GAC and EC influences GPI via green perceived value (GPV) (i.e., this interaction effect is mediated by GPV). (3) GT further moderates these relationships: under high GT conditions, consumers with high EC show a stronger preference for high-centrality green products; conversely, under low GT conditions, such consumers exhibit a greater preference for low-centrality green products. This study provides a novel theoretical explanation and practical pathway for bridging the “attitude-behavior gap” in green consumption. It not only deepens the understanding of the mechanisms underlying green consumption decision-making but also offers precise references for enterprises to implement differentiated green marketing strategies and for policymakers to guide public green consumption. Full article

Accelerating the diffusion of renewable energy requires clear evidence on which determinants enable or hinder deployment across contexts. This study aims to identify the most frequently discussed contemporary determinants of renewable energy deployment. To this end, we conduct a PRISMA-guided systematic review within the SALSA framework, complemented by VOSviewer bibliometric mapping, synthesizing 110 peer-reviewed studies published between 2013 and 2025. We group the most frequently examined determinants into eight domains (economic, environmental, energy, political, regulatory, regional, technological, and social) and summarize the prevalent direction of effect reported in the literature. Economic conditions (e.g., economic growth, financial development, green finance, and trade) and policy/regulation (e.g., institutional quality, instrument stringency, and feed-in and net-billing schemes) emerge as pivotal. Environmental co-benefits (emissions reduction and air quality improvements) and energy system factors (security and energy poverty) are influential, with context-dependent roles for fossil fuel prices and consumption. Regional context (e.g., geopolitical risk) and technological progress (eco-innovation, storage, and grid integration) shape outcomes, while public acceptance, awareness, perceived benefits/costs, and demographics condition uptake. We also document contradictory findings (e.g., foreign direct investment and oil price effects) and gaps (especially social/demographic determinants and causal evaluation of specific policies). Overall, the review offers a coherent synthesis of evidence and an actionable framework of determinants to inform policy design and investment targeting for large-scale diffusion of renewable energy technologies. Full article

A strategic fulcrum for leading high-quality economic development and shaping the nation’s future. Core competitiveness lies in how governments can effectively stimulate consumer demand for green consumption and motivate enterprises to pursue green technology innovation through the development of precise and efficient innovative regulation models. In this paper, a tripartite evolutionary game model is constructed based on evolutionary game theory, encompassing the government, enterprises, and consumers. We analyze the strategic interactions and evolutionary path among these three entities under conditions of bounded rationality and information asymmetry. The research reveals the following: (1) the government can effectively guide enterprises towards genuine green innovation through enhanced rewards for substantive innovation and increased penalties for strategic innovation; (2) consumer purchasing decisions are significantly shaped by economic benefits, perceived social value, and government subsidies, with their market choices forming a critical external supervisory force; and (3) government regulatory strategies are dynamically adjusted in response to market integrity levels and social welfare, with a tendency to implement innovative regulation when “greenwashing” risk is elevated. In conclusion, simulation analysis is conducted using MATLAB 2018a, and governance recommendations are offered based on three dimensions: precise government regulation, enhanced corporate responsibility, and enhanced consumer capabilities. These recommendations offer both a theoretical basis and a practical path for establishing an integrated green innovation governance system based on incentive constraint empowerment. Full article

Tea beverages, which combine the health benefits of traditional tea with convenient consumption, are experiencing rapid market growth. Despite the widespread use of transparent packaging and diverse colour schemes, the influence of such packaging strategies on consumer perception and purchase intention remains poorly understood. The present research therefore aimed to investigate the impact of transparent packaging on consumers’ willingness to purchase tea beverages, as well as the underlying psychological processes, based on trust theory. Across three experimental studies, the results showed that consumers reported a higher purchase intention for tea beverages with transparent (vs. opaque) packaging (Studies 1–3), regardless of whether it was green tea or black tea (Study 2), or a well-known or lesser-known brand (Study 3). Moreover, trust mediated the relationship between transparent (vs. opaque) packaging and purchase intention (Studies 2 and 3). Furthermore, brand awareness moderated the effect of transparent (vs. opaque) packaging on trust and purchase intentions, with stronger effects observed for well-known brands as compared to lesser-known ones (Study 3). In addition, for opaque packaging, green (vs. black) tea beverages with green (vs. red) colour packaging were perceived as more trustworthy, resulting in higher purchase intentions (Studies 1 and 2). These findings identify transparent packaging as a significant marketing tool that can help to increase consumer trust while at the same time promoting positive evaluations and purchase intentions. These insights provide strategic implications for brands operating in the rapidly growing tea beverage market. Full article

Perceived value is a key factor shaping consumer purchase decisions. In the field of functional snack consumption, generational differences in value perception dimensions significantly influence decision-making processes, creating both challenges and opportunities for targeted marketing. Drawing on perceived value theory, this study develops a model examining the impact of perceived value on consumption intention for functional snacks. A questionnaire survey was conducted among Chinese Generation Y and Generation Z consumers, and the data were analyzed using PLS-SEM and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). The results indicate that self-oriented values (functional and hedonic) exert a significant positive effect on other-oriented values (symbolic and social), and both categories of values positively affect consumption intention. Regarding generational moderation, the effects of functional and hedonic values on purchase intention do not differ significantly across generations; however, symbolic value has a stronger influence on Generation Z, while social value plays a more prominent role for Generation Y. Importance–Performance Map Analysis (IPMA) results further reveal differences in the relative importance and performance of value perception between the two groups. Configuration analysis shows that compared with Generation Y, Generation Z exhibits a higher threshold for strong consumption intention, a lower threshold for weak consumption intention, and greater sensitivity to value deficiency. These findings provide practical insights for functional snack companies to address generational differences and optimize marketing strategies. Full article

The aim of our study is to investigate the factors that drive craft beer consumption choices in Italy. To this end, we simultaneously analyze purchase intentions and actual craft beer consumption. The theoretical approach took into account the main doctrinal frameworks, particularly those most widely used in marketing studies. Through PLS-SEM analysis (partial least squares structural equation modeling), we examine how consumption habits, liking, appeal, territorial identities, and perceived quality shape intentions and also the actual behavior of Italian consumers towards craft beer. The results highlight how attractiveness and interest in the craft beer phenomenon, lifestyle, and curiosity for new flavors and aromas demonstrate an openness to craft beer and a new cultural identity among consumers. In many cases, respondents stated that they wanted to support local craft breweries and the local economy. Consumer trust in agri-food products is closely linked to their perception of authenticity and compliance with quality and safety standards. A better understanding of these aspects could help everyone involved in the entire supply chain implement more effective and targeted campaigns. Full article