Chen Feiyu, Gu Xiao, Hou Jing
School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, No. 1 Daxue Road, Xuzhou 221116, China.
Business School, Jiangsu Normal University, No. 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, China.
Foods. 2022 Apr 29;11(9):1290. doi: 10.3390/foods11091290.
The attention regarding individuals’ external appearance and social identity provides a unique perspective to reveal the cause of their behavior. This study explored the formation mechanism of individual food waste behavior in China from the perspective of appearance image construction and social image construction, especially considering the role of emotion, education level, and body mass index (BMI) in relationship transmission. This study collected data by questionnaire in 133 cities in 32 provinces of China. By using the methods of factor analysis, correlation analysis, and hierarchical regression analysis, the results show that individuals with high need for external appearance image (r = 0.242, p < 0.001) and social image construction (r = 0.31, p < 0.001) are more likely to waste food. In terms of transmission mechanisms, positive emotions (e.g., excitement) (β = 0.1040.187, 95% confidence interval) and negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and disgust) (β = 0.080.177, 95% confidence interval) are the intermediary factors of image construction affecting food waste behavior, and emotional fluctuations can aggravate individuals’ food waste behavior. In terms of interaction effects, BMI significantly positively regulates the predictive effect of image construction on food waste behavior, while the level of education buffers this predictive effect. Finally, relevant policy suggestions are put forward to guide individuals to reduce food waste.
对个体外在形象和社会身份的关注为揭示其行为原因提供了独特视角。本研究从外表形象建构和社会形象建构的角度，探讨了中国个体食物浪费行为的形成机制，尤其考虑了情感、教育水平和体重指数（BMI）在关系传递中的作用。本研究通过问卷调查在中国32个省份的133个城市收集数据。运用因子分析、相关分析和层次回归分析方法，结果表明，对外表形象需求较高（r = 0.242，p < 0.001）和社会形象建构需求较高（r = 0.31，p < 0.001）的个体更有可能浪费食物。在传递机制方面，积极情绪（如兴奋）（β = 0.1040.187，95%置信区间）和消极情绪（如焦虑和厌恶）（β = 0.080.177，95%置信区间）是形象建构影响食物浪费行为的中介因素，情绪波动会加剧个体的食物浪费行为。在交互作用方面，BMI显著正向调节形象建构对食物浪费行为的预测作用，而教育水平则缓冲了这种预测作用。最后，提出了相关政策建议以引导个体减少食物浪费。
