Corporate social responsibility and brand loyalty in private higher education: mediation assessment of brand reputation and trust

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on brand reputation, brand trust, and brand loyalty in the context of higher education. The direct effect of CSR on brand loyalty, and indirect effects through brand reputation and brand trust have been investigated. Data for this study were collected from 300 students attending a private university in Malaysia. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to assess the measurement model and test the proposed hypotheses. Study findings support all hypotheses. The results confirm the positive direct effect of CSR on brand reputation and brand loyalty, as well as the indirect effects of CSR on brand loyalty through brand reputation and brand trust. This study makes a unique theoretical contribution to the literature through assessing and comparing the mediating role of brand reputation and brand trust between CSR and brand loyalty using the Hierarchy of Effects Model.

KEYWORDS:

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
• brand reputation
• brand trust
• brand loyalty
• higher education
• the Hierarchy of Effects Model (HEM)

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to extend their appreciation to the Taylor’s University, Malaysia to fund this paper under the Taylor's Internal Research Grant Scheme - Emerging Research Funding Scheme (TIRGS-ERFS) [grant number TRGS/ERFS/2/2018/SOC/011] that makes this paper possible.