The Effects of Knowledge Types on Consumer Decision Making for Non-Toxic Housing Materials and Products

Hyun Joo Kwon, Mira Ahn and Jiyun Kang
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Hyun Joo Kwon: Department of Interior & Environmental Design, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Korea
Mira Ahn: School of Family and Consumer Sciences, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA
Jiyun Kang: Division of Consumer Science, School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: This study explored how different types of consumer knowledge (exposure, subjective knowledge, and objective knowledge) predict perceptions (benefits, severity, and barriers) and behavioral intention to choose non-toxic housing materials and products based on the extended health belief model (HBM). The target population was people 18 years or older living in the U.S. A total of 1050 valid responses were collected through an online survey. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model via AMOS version 24. Results show that the prediction of exposure, subjective knowledge, and objective knowledge for behavioral intention is mediated by health belief perceptions in different ways. Exposure had a significant impact on perceived benefits and perceived severity but not on perceived barriers. Subjective knowledge was not significantly associated with perceptions, but all of the effects of objective knowledge on the HBM elements were significant. Significant indirect effects of exposure and subjective knowledge on behavioral intention were found; the indirect effects of objective knowledge on behavioral intention were insignificant. By adopting the extended HBM, this study contributes to a better understanding of the link among knowledge types and perceptions of non-toxic housing materials and products, and behavioral intention to choose them.

Keywords: exposure; subjective knowledge; objective knowledge; non-toxic housing materials and products; behavioral intention; health belief model (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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