Measuring consumers’ product care tendency: Scale development and validation
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Product care is defined as all activities initiated by consumers that encourage an extension of product lifetimes, such as repair, maintenance, and/or careful handling. A product care scale was developed and validated in a set of four related studies. In study 1, we asked experts to examine the face validity of a set of 35 items. In study 2, we reduced the initial set of items to 10 items using exploratory factor analysis. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis supported a three-factor solution. Study 3, a nomological network study, demonstrated that the construct measured by our scale is related but still distinguishable from existing concepts, such as frugality, use innovativeness and attachment towards the product. Study 4 was a known-groups test with participants from two different countries and with various previous experiences in repairing. The final 10-item product care scale includes three factors: relevance, easiness and positive experience.
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Perceived self-efficacy in repair contexts is a primary behavioral predictor.
“and with evidence that perceived self-efficacy in repair contexts is a primary behavioral predictor [8,24]”
From Designing for Repair and Extended Lifespan: Consumer Expectations and Economic Constraints (2026) · cites this paper as [8]
Section 2, “Consumers’ product care,” says consumers should have confidence in their ability to care for products, and the Discussion identifies lack of ability as a barrier to repair. Neither passage establishes perceived self-efficacy in repair as a primary behavioral predictor; the Discussion instead calls the importance consumers place on product care a strong predictor of future pro-environmental intentions. Page numbers were not supplied in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredRepair practices are hindered by consumers' limited skills, tools, time, and motivation, compounded by financial and motivational barriers.
“Repair practices are hindered by consumers' limited skills, tools, time, and motivation, compounded by financial and motivational barriers [8-10].”
From Designing for Repair and Extended Lifespan: Consumer Expectations and Economic Constraints (2026) · cites this paper as [8]
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Shi, T., Huang, R., & Sarigöllü, E. (2022) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.114114 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Designing for Repair and Extended Lifespan: Consumer Expectations and Economic Constraints
Čok, V., Rihtaršič, J., Warell, A., & Tavčar, J. (2026) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su18126270 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Ackermann, L., Schoormans, J. P. L., & Mugge, R.
- Affiliations
- Fachhochschule Salzburg (AT)
- Delft University of Technology (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Ackermann, Laura
- Venue
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2021-05
- Volume
- 295
- Pages
- 126327
- ISSN
- 0959-6526 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3131959521
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 2.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Cleaner Production (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Keywords
- product care, product life extension, repair, maintenance, scale development, scale validation, frugality, product attachment, consumer behavior, nomological network, cross-cultural comparison
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