Interpreting the Future Tense: Anxiety and Fear in Consumer Decision-Making

Aşkım Nurdan Tümbek Tekeoğlu (), Necla Ilter Küçükçolak () and Mert Aydoğan ()
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Aşkım Nurdan Tümbek Tekeoğlu: Istanbul Ticaret University
Necla Ilter Küçükçolak: Turkish Mercantile Exchange
Mert Aydoğan: İstinye University

A chapter in Eurasian Business and Economics Perspectives, 2025, pp 73-91 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract In a world marked by global pandemics, financial crises, geopolitical and socio-political instabilities and widespread uncertainty, this study examines how future tense affects consumer behaviour. Uncertainty and instability become more contagious as technological advancements accelerate, information flow improves, and cross border activities increase, making it crucial to understand consumer responses to these changes. This research captures perspectives on how uncertainties about future influence purchasing decisions across different genders, age groups and education levels through a structured survey. Key findings reveal that future anxiety and fear result in significant behavioural changes in shopping preferences, spending habits and investment preferences. The study also highlights that media coverage heightens anxiety, leading to reactions such as panic buying. The Pearson’s Chi-Square analysis confirms statistically significant variations in behavior due to demographic factors like age and education. Socio-economic uncertainty effects younger, digitally native generations, more than older ones. These findings provide guidance for businesses and policymakers to develop strategies that respond to evolving consumer trends in times of uncertainty.

Keywords: Anxiety; Consumer behaviour; Emotions; Future tense (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:eurchp:978-3-031-85312-8_4

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-85312-8_4

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