Short answer

Designers and marketers should consider how products and services can contribute to a consumer's psychological recovery, thereby indirectly boosting their productivity and engagement in other life domains.

Field: Innovation & Markets
Source: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021)
Method: Purchasing experiment and experience sampling method (multilevel structural equation modeling)
Sample: 215 participants (100 MBA students in Study 1, 115 employees in Study 2)
Evidence: Moderate effect

Engaging in non-essential purchases can positively influence an individual's recovery from stress, which in turn enhances their work engagement, particularly when consumers feel effective in their purchasing decisions. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2021 study published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. Using Purchasing experiment and experience sampling method (multilevel structural equation modeling) with 215 participants (100 MBA students in Study 1, 115 employees in Study 2), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and marketers should consider how products and services can contribute to a consumer's psychological recovery, thereby indirectly boosting their productivity and engagement in other life domains.

Study

Innovation & MarketsHigh ImpactModerate effect

Unnecessary Consumption Boosts Work Engagement by Enhancing Consumer Recovery

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · 2021

Key Findings

01Non-essential consumption behavior positively impacts work engagement.
02Consumer indulgence moderates the mediating effect of recovery on the relationship between indulgent consumption and work engagement.
03Perceived consumer effectiveness negatively moderates the mediating effect of recovery.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing products or services, consider features that allow users to indulge, feel a sense of accomplishment, or experience a break from stressors, which can then translate to improved performance in their professional lives.

Project actions

01Consider how a product's purchase or use can provide a psychological 'break' or reward for the user.
02Explore how to make users feel more effective and in control of their purchasing decisions.

Method & Evidence

AimTo investigate how non-essential consumption behavior affects consumers' recovery levels and work engagement, and to explore the mediating and moderating roles of consumer indulgence and perceived consumer effectiveness in these relationships.

MethodPurchasing experiment and experience sampling method (multilevel structural equation modeling)

ProcedureStudy 1 used a purchasing experiment to examine the effect of non-essential consumption on recovery. Study 2 employed a ten-iteration, two-day continual questionnaire survey (Sunday and Monday) over a period to collect data on consumption, recovery, and work engagement from employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sample215 participants (100 MBA students in Study 1, 115 employees in Study 2)

ContextConsumer behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic

Variables

IVNon-essential consumption behavior

DVWork engagement

CVConsumer indulgence, perceived consumer effectiveness, recovery level

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Utilizes both experimental and real-world data collection methods.
+Investigates complex mediating and moderating relationships.

Limitations

The subjective nature of 'unneeded' consumption and the specific context of a pandemic may limit the direct applicability to all design projects.

Reliability & validity

The use of multiple methods (experiment and experience sampling) and statistical modeling (SEM) enhances the reliability and validity of the findings. However, self-report measures and the specific pandemic context could introduce limitations.

Think critically

To what extent is 'unneeded consumption' a sustainable or ethical design strategy for long-term well-being?

Design Principles

"Design for psychological restoration to enhance user engagement."

This research suggests that for businesses, understanding the psychological benefits of consumption beyond basic needs can unlock new market opportunities. It highlights how product design and marketing can tap into consumers' desire for recovery and stress relief, especially during challenging times.

What This Means for Your Design

Buying 'treats' or non-essential items can make people feel better and more focused when they return to work, especially if they feel good about their purchase.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when exploring the psychological impact of product design on user behavior and well-being.
2.Use findings to justify design choices that aim to improve user mood or reduce stress.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research indicates that non-essential consumption can positively influence consumer recovery and subsequent work engagement, mediated by the recovery level and moderated by consumer indulgence and perceived effectiveness. This suggests that design interventions aimed at providing psychological restoration through consumption can have tangible benefits on user productivity.

Source

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

The Positive Effects of Unneeded Consumption Behaviour on Consumers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

journal · 2021

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about unnecessary consumption boosts work engagement by enhancing consumer recovery?: Designers and marketers should consider how products and services can contribute to a consumer's psychological recovery, thereby indirectly boosting their productivity and engagement in other life domains. Evidence: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
Why does "Unnecessary Consumption Boosts Work Engagement by Enhancing Consumer Recovery" matter for design?: This research suggests that for businesses, understanding the psychological benefits of consumption beyond basic needs can unlock new market opportunities. It highlights how product design and marketing can tap into consumers' desire for recovery and stress relief, especially during challenging times.
How can designers apply this research?: Designers and marketers should consider how products and services can contribute to a consumer's psychological recovery, thereby indirectly boosting their productivity and engagement in other life domains.
What were the main findings?: Non-essential consumption behavior positively impacts work engagement.. Consumer indulgence moderates the mediating effect of recovery on the relationship between indulgent consumption and work engagement.. Perceived consumer effectiveness negatively moderates the mediating effect of recovery.
What research method was used?: Purchasing experiment and experience sampling method (multilevel structural equation modeling) with 215 participants (100 MBA students in Study 1, 115 employees in Study 2).
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2021 journal from International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing products or services, consider features that allow users to indulge, feel a sense of accomplishment, or experience a break from stressors, which can then translate to improved performance in their professional lives.
What are the limitations?: The studies were conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which may influence generalizability to other contexts. The definition of 'unneeded consumption' could be subjective.