Gender and Age Differences in Consumer Materialism

Article Sidebar

PDF
Published: Dec 21, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.47577/business.v10i.12064

Main Article Content

Ivana Ondrijová
University of Presov, Faculty of Management and Business, Konstantinova 16, 08001 Presov, Slovakia

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between consumer materialism and demographic factors, focusing on gender and age. Materialism, often characterized by the prioritization of acquiring material goods, has been linked to diminished well-being and psychological challenges. The research utilized a sample of 137 respondents surveyed via an online questionnaire measuring materialistic tendencies using Richins' and Dawson's (1992) methodology. The findings revealed no statistically significant correlation between materialism levels and gender, aligning with some prior research while contradicting studies suggesting gender-based differences in materialistic values. In contrast, the results confirmed significant age-related differences: respondents under 30 exhibited higher materialism scores compared to older participants. These results reflect trends identified in previous studies linking youth materialism to social comparisons and aspirational behaviors amplified by social media and peer influence. The study contributes to the broader understanding of consumer materialism by highlighting the nuanced impact of demographic factors. However, it also acknowledges limitations, including the use of a non-representative sample and self-reported data. Future research should explore these dynamics further, particularly in diverse cultural and socio-economic contexts.


Article Details

How to Cite
Ondrijová, I. (2024). Gender and Age Differences in Consumer Materialism. Technium Business and Management, 10, 138–144. https://doi.org/10.47577/business.v10i.12064
Issue
Vol. 10 (2024): Multidisciplinary Research in Business and Management
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

ANTINIENÉ, D. et al.: Do Demographics Matter in Consumer Materialism? Engineering Economics Journal General Track, 2021, ISSN 2029-5839. [online]. [cit. 2024-04-11]. Available at: https://inzeko.ktu.lt/index.php/EE/article/view/28717.

BUIJZEN, M. and P. M. VALKENBURG: The effects of television advertising on materialism, parent–child conflict, and unhappiness: A review of research. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 2003, vol. 24, no. 4, pp. 437-456. ISSN 0193-3973.

CHAPLIN, L. N.; JOHN, D. R.; RINDFLEISCH, A.; FROH, J. J.: The impact of gratitude on adolescent materialism and generosity. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2019, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 502-511.

DEBRECENI, J. and A. HOFMEISTER-TOTH: Materialism among teenagers, the relationship between terminal values and social media use. International Journal of Multidisciplinarity in Business and Science, 2018, vol. 4, pp. 5–12. ISSN 1849-0581.

DITTMAR, H. and A. ISHAM: Materialistic value orientation and wellbeing. Current Opinion in Psychology, 2022, vol. 46, p. 101337.

DITTMAR, H.; BOND, R.; HURST, M.; KASSER, T.: The relationship between materialism and personal well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2014, vol. 107, no. 5, pp. 879.

GAMBLE, Ch. et al.: What is new materialism? Journal Angelaki, 2019, vol. 24, no. 6, pp. 111-134. [online]. [cit. 2022-13-12]. Available at: https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-780190221911/obo-9780190221911-0016.xml.

HO, H.; SHIN, W.; LWIN, M. O.: Social networking site use and materialistic values among youth: The safeguarding role of the parent-child relationship and self-regulation. Communication Research, 2019, vol. 46, no. 8, pp. 1119-1144.

ISLAM, T. et al.: Determinants of compulsive buying behavior among young adults: The mediating role of materialism. Journal of Adolescence, 2017, vol. 61, pp. 117–130. [online]. [cit. 2022-10-23]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2017.10.004.

JASPERS, E.D.T. and R.G.M. PIETERS: Materialism Across the Life Span: An Age-Period-Cohort Analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2016, vol. 111, no. 3, pp. 451-473. ISSN 0022-3514.

KANWAL, M.; BURKI, U.; ALI, R.; DAHLSTROM, R.: Systematic review of gender differences and similarities in online consumers’ shopping behavior. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2022, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 29-43.

KASSER, T.: Materialistic Values and Goals. Annual Review of Psychology, 2016, vol. 67, pp. 489–514. [online]. [cit. 2023-02-18]. Available at: https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev-psych-122414-033344.

KASSER, T.: Frugality, generosity, and materialism in children and adolescents. In: What do children need to flourish? Conceptualizing and measuring indicators of positive development. Boston, MA: Springer US, 2005, pp. 357-373.

KARABATI, S. and Z. CEMALCILAR: Values, materialism, and well-being: A study with Turkish university students. Journal of Economic Psychology, 2010, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 624–633. ISSN 0167-4870.

KEECH, J.; PAPAKRONI, J.; PODOSHEN, J. S.: Gender and differences in materialism, power, risk aversion, self-consciousness, and social comparison. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 2020, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 83-93.

MARTIN, C. et al.: Age-related changes in materialism in adults - A self-uncertainty perspective. Journal of Research Personality, 2019, vol. 78, pp. 16–24. ISSN 0092-6566.

MITCHELL, T.R. and A.E. MICKEL: The Meaning of Money: An Individual Difference. Academy of Management Review, 1999, vol. 24, pp. 568-578. [online]. [cit. 2022-10-12]. Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/i303038.

PINTO, M. et al.: Investigating the Influencers of Materialism in Adolescence. Tourism & Management Studies, 2017, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 66-74. ISSN 2182-8466.

RICHINS, M.L. and S. DAWSON: A Consumer Values Orientation for Materialism and Its Measurement: Scale Development and Validation, 1992, [online]. [cit. 2024-20-03].

RICHINS, M.L.: The Material Values Scale: Measurement Properties and Development of a Short Form. Journal of Consumer Research, 2004, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 209–219. ISSN 0093-5301.

ROBERTS, J. et al.: Interpersonal influence and adolescent materialism and compulsive buying. Social Influence, 2008, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 114-131. [online]. [cit. 2022-12-20]. Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15534510802185687.

SHRUM, L.J. et al.: Reconceptualizing materialism as identity goal pursuits: Functions, processes and consequences. Journal of Business Research, 2013, vol. 66, no. 8, pp. 1179-1185. [online]. [cit. 2022-10-02]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.08.010.

SEMMA, A.: Psychological effects of Social Media on Real Life. Salatiga: Universitas Islam Negeri Salatiga, 2022.

WANG, L. et al.: The Not-So-Dark Side of Materialism: Can Public Versus Private Contexts Make Materialists Less Eco-Unfriendly? [online]. [cit. 2023-03-10]. Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00790/full.

WILKINSON, R.; PICKETT, K.: The world we need. Cooperatives in a Post-growth Era, 2014, 61-83.