Religiosity and food waste reduction intentions: A conceptual model
Abstract
Are religious consumers less wasteful? If so, to what extent and by what mechanisms does religiosity motivate consumers to reduce food waste? To address these questions, this study proposes a conceptual model and evaluates it empirically using PLS‐SEM and data from 583 consumers. The results reveal that religiosity encourages food waste reduction. Specifically, religiosity is positively related to consumer attitudes, activism and personal and subjective norms to reduce food waste. Consumers’ activism and personal norms are significant mediating mechanisms that convey the impact of religiosity on food waste reduction intentions. Interestingly, however, consumers’ attitudes and subjective norms show no significant effects on their food waste reduction intentions. In addition, perceived behavioural control (PBC) appears to be an important determinant of consumer intentions, but it plays a direct role rather than a moderating role. These results extend the previous literature by (a) proposing novel intervening mechanisms to explain the understudied religiosity‐consumer behaviour relationship and (b) shedding light on the controversy regarding the additive versus moderating effect of PBC. Ultimately, this study provides a basis for religious‐based interventions for policy makers and marketers as well as ideas to motivate food waste reduction at the consumer level.
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The majority of factors causing food waste by individuals are influenced by religiosity.
“The food waste literature has indicated multiple reasons for causing food waste by individuals, the majority of the factors are influenced by religiosity [13]; personal attitudes towards food waste [6-19], and culture [19,20].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Few studies have been conducted in GCCs, which are Arab and Islamic societies.
“However, few studies have been conducted in GCCs, which are Arab and Islamic societies [13,17].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
There is a positive and direct relationship between personal attitude and food waste reduction intention.
“More specifically, studies confirmed a positive and direct relationship between personal attitude and food waste reduction intention [5,13,54].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
By achieving religious requirements and/or imitating the behavior patterns of religious people, religious people can be motivated to reduce wasted food from a compliance perspective.
“Consequently, by achieving religious requirements and/or imitating the behavior patterns of religious people, religious people can be motivated to reduce wasted food from a compliance perspective [13].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
This normative component can be further enhanced by religiosity in the food waste context.
“This normative component can be further enhanced by religiosity in the food waste context [13].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Recent research has shown a moderating effect of PBC on the relationship between religiosity and food waste reduction intention.
“Recent research has shown a moderating effect of PBC on the relationship between religiosity and food waste reduction intention [13].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
If restaurant managers and customers consider repurposing leftovers as easy, they will be more probably to form positive intentions to do in comparison to those who consider it difficult.
“Generally, if restaurant managers and customers consider repurposing leftovers as easy, accordingly they will be more probably to form positive intentions to do in comparison to those who consider it difficult [13].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
Only a few studies have been carried out in GCCs.
“Furthermore, only a few studies have been carried out in GCCs [13,17].”
From The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia (2021) · cites this paper as [13]
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The Impact of Religiosity and Food Consumption Culture on Food Waste Intention in Saudi Arabia
Elshaer, I., Sobaih, A. E. E., Alyahya, M., & Abu Elnasr, A. (2021) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su13116473 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
- Authors
- Elhoushy, S., & Jang, S. (.
- Affiliations
- Ca' Foscari University of Venice (IT)
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- Corresponding author
- Elhoushy, Sayed
- Venue
- International Journal of Consumer Studies
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2020-10-26
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 287-302
- ISSN
- 1470-6423 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-6431
- OpenAlex
- W3092115959
- Cited by
- 109
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 14 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 6
- FWCI
- 7.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Journal of Consumer Studies (publishedVersion)
- Queen Mary Research Online (Queen Mary University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Food Waste Reduction and Sustainability
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Religion, Ecology, and Ethics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law › Environmental Education and Sustainability
- Keywords
- religiosity, food waste reduction, consumer intention, consumer activism, personal norms, subjective norms, consumer attitudes, perceived behavioral control
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