Toward Self-Preservation: Analysis of Slow Food Consumption Antecedents during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study analyzes whether the intention to consume healthy foods, health consciousness, and self-isolation influence slow food consumption in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. An online survey gathered data from 423 valid respondents, and these were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). In short, we found that the intention to consume healthy food explains slow food consumption. Both self-isolation and health consciousness indirectly impact slow food consumption through the intention to consume healthy foods. From a scientific point of view, this study offers several contributions to the specialized literature. Firstly, it expands the scope of studies on slow food since the literature has hitherto focused on addressing it as a movement. Secondly, it reveals which factors influence slow food amidst a scenario that, although adverse, has favored its occurrence. Finally, it advances and innovates by identifying new theoretical relations.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• health consciousness
• healthy eating
• self-isolation
• slow food

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figure 1. Theoretical model. Note. *Indirect effect.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) under Grant [Finance code 001]; and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) through a scholarship for one of the authors.