A cross-cultural examination of sustainable luxury consumption: a comparative study of social norms, self-control and future orientation in the UK and China

Abstract

Purpose

The study addresses gaps in sustainable luxury consumption research by analyzing the role of social norms in different cultural settings. It investigates how social norms, self-control, conspicuousness and future orientation shape sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic (UK) versus collectivist (China) national cultures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on survey data from British and Chinese luxury product consumers collected through online panels. The final sample included 452 valid responses from the UK and 414 from China. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study found that descriptive norms positively influence sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic (UK) and collectivist (China) cultures. Injunctive norms affect sustainable consumption only in the UK. Future consequences universally impact sustainable consumption. Conspicuous consumption negatively affects preferences for sustainable luxury brands. Self-control enhances the impact of descriptive norms in the UK but reduces the impact of injunctive norms in China.

Originality/value

This study uniquely explores how social norms and cultural influences impact sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic and collectivistic societies. It highlights the moderating role of national culture, providing actionable insights for luxury brands to enhance sustainable consumption with culturally tailored strategies. The research challenges the universality of the theory of normative social behavior, advocating for its refined application across different cultures.

Citation

Balabanis, G., Stathopoulou, A. and Chen, X. (2024), "A cross-cultural examination of sustainable luxury consumption: a comparative study of social norms, self-control and future orientation in the UK and China", International Marketing Review, Vol. 41 No. 6, pp. 1270-1299. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMR-01-2024-0009