Research
The Impact of Media Exposure and Fear of COVID-19 on Panic Buying: A Study of Indian Consumers During the Second Wave of COVID-19
Authors:
Zahid Ilyas ,
University of Kashmir, IN
About Zahid
Department of Management Studies
Mushtaq Ahmad Siddiqi
University of Kashmir, IN
About Mushtaq Ahmad
Department of Management Studies
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine how media coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic affected people's fear and panic buying behaviour during the pandemic's second wave, which appears to be an under-researched area in the literature. Data were collected from 205 respondents in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), India through email and social media platforms. Partial least squares structural equational modelling was used to validate the measurement model and subsequently analyse the hypothesised relationships. Findings revealed that media exposure and fear of COVID-19 have a significant positive influence on panic buying behaviour. However, the mediation effect of fear of COVID-19 in the relationship between media exposure and panic buying behaviour was found statistically insignificant. These findings implied that the media coverage of stockouts and empty shelves (rather than fear-inducing media coverage related to medical aspects) may have elevated the levels of panic buying by people.
How to Cite:
Ilyas, Z. and Siddiqi, M.A., 2022. The Impact of Media Exposure and Fear of COVID-19 on Panic Buying: A Study of Indian Consumers During the Second Wave of COVID-19. Colombo Business Journal, 13(2), pp.1–20. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cbj.v13i2.122
Published on
31 Dec 2022.
Peer Reviewed
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