COVID-19 Effects on Environmentally Responsible Behavior: A Social Impact Perspective from Latin American Countries.

The aim of the research is to examine the relationships between the following variables (a) Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), composed of Attitudes (ATT), Subjective Norms (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC); and (b) Consciousness (EC) on the dependent variable Environmentally Responsible Purchase Intention (ERPI) from the perspective of the Latin American consumer in a pandemic. Currently, the literature on the relationships proposed in the explanatory model is still scarce at a theoretical and practical level, without empirical evidence in Latin America. The data collection is from 1624 voluntary responses from consumers in Chile (n = 400), Colombia (n = 421), Mexico (n = 401), and Peru (n = 402) collected through online surveys. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) and multi-group to test invariance analysis and the moderating effects, we can determine the relationship between the variables in the proposed model, generating evidence from Latin American countries. The empirical analysis verified that Attitude (ATT), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), and Environmental Consciousness (CE) have a positive and significant effect on Environmentally Responsible Purchase Intention (ERPI). The results also show that the generation variable presents invariance. Therefore, the groups are not different at the model level for the generation variable, becoming relevant to the difference at the path level. Therefore, the results of this study become a relevant contribution, indicating a moderating effect on the generation variable. This research provides insights for understanding Latin American consumers, and managerial implications are also provided for developing strategies to promote sustainable consumption.

Influence of COVID-19 on Environmental Awareness, Sustainable Consumption, and Social Responsibility in Latin American Countries

This article aims to investigate the effect that COVID-19 has on environmental awareness, sustainable consumption, and consumer social responsibility. Although some recent research focused on this phenomenon, there are still no studies applied to Latin American consumers. In this study, the data comes from 1624 responses from Latin American consumers who also represent different generations, equitably distributed in 400 from Chile (24.6%), 421 from Colombia (25.9%), 401 from Mexico (24.7%), and 402 from Peru (24.8%). Data were collected through self-administered questionnaires using an online survey via Google Forms through email and social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and WhatsApp) from July 2021 to September 2021. This study uses a quantitative methodology using a structural equations model (SEM) to examine the cause–effect relationships of the explanatory model of this study. The main findings indicate that consumers from these countries declare that their behaviors have become ecologically and socially responsible. In addition, these respondents indicated that they had increased their interest in sustainable consumption and in acquiring environmentally friendly products to reduce waste and negative impacts on the environment derived from consumption. Based on the results, this research provides useful information to change or re-direct the communication and strategies of governments, brands, organizations, and society to promote actions and behaviors that help reduce the negative impact on the environment derived from consumption in a Latin American market. Managerial implications are provided.