Investigation of the Possibility of Applying Protection Motivation Theory in Consumers’ Changes by Fipronil Egg Contamination

ABSTRACT

This study examined the effects of response-facilitating factors(Food-related Knowledge, Response-Efficacy, and Self-Efficacy) and response-inhibiting factors(Severity, Vulnerability, and Consumer Stress) on the consumer’ behavior intention based on protection motivation theory, which explains the behavioral change to protect oneself. This study was conducted to reduce the customers’ concerns regarding food safety accidents and introduce ways to make them more interested in food safety. A sample of 225 adults over 19 years of age was collected in February 2018 through a self-administered questionnaire. The results of the cognitive mediation process of protective motivation theory showed that the consumers’ knowledge and self-efficacy which are response-facilitating factors, positively influence the behavioral intention. Severity and consumer stress were response-inhibiting factors. On the other hand, response-efficacy, which is a response-facilitating factor, and vulnerability, which is a response-inhibiting factor, did not influence the behavioral intention. Therefore, severity and consumer stress are response-inhibiting factors. The results were analyzed as a result of a behavioral change to protect oneself from food safety accidents. The applicability of the theory of protection motivation on the topic of food safety was also confirmed.