Gender Differences in Psychosocial Determinants of University Students’ Intentions to Buy Fair Trade Products

Abstract

This study examined gender differences in university students' intentions to buy fair trade (FT) products through the lens of the moral norm extended theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Data were obtained from 782 students at the University of Luxemburg. Results of structural equation analysis indicated that the inclusion of moral norms increased the explained variance in behavioural intentions from 62 to 69.4%. Compared to men, women reported more favourable attitude, higher moral obligation, and stronger intentions toward buying FT prod- ucts. Moderating analyses showed that the attitude-intentions relationship was stronger for men, whereas the perceived behavioural control-intentions relationship was stronger for women. The implications of the moderation analysis are that sustainability professionals seeking to encourage university students' intentions to buy FT products should develop gender-targeted interventions: for men, more emphasis should be placed on attitude toward buying FT products (i.e., the advantages of adopting this behaviour), and for women, more emphasis should be placed on perceived behavioural control (e.g., factors that facilitate the purchase of FT products).