An Empirical Study of Consumer Empowerment for Chinese Elderly Consumers

This study examines the consumer empowerment index for Chinese elderly consumers, the impact of socio-demographic variables, exposure to mass media, and communication about consumption on consumer empowerment. The consumer empowerment index is composed of three factors: consumer knowledge, consumer attitude, and consumer skill. Data were collected from 301 Chinese elderly consumers aged 60 to 80 years old via a professional online survey firm. The findings of the analysis were described using frequency, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. The results are as follows. First, the average of consumer knowledge was 35.69 points out of 100, consumer skill was 65.71 points, and consumer attitude was 68.87 points. Second, socio-demographic variables indicated that education level, previous occupation, type of residence and communication about consumption impact consumer empowerment. Elderly consumers with higher education had higher consumer attitudes and better overall consumer empowerment than those with lower education. Consumers who were self-employed workers had higher consumer skills than those of technical or service workers. Elderly consumers who live alone had higher consumer skills than those who live in a nursing home. Third, according to communication about consumption, family communication is positively associated with consumer attitudes, skills and overall empowerment, while friend communication is positively associated with consumer attitudes and overall empowerment. The findings of this study are useful in developing guidelines that help the government make consumer education systems for the elderly who want to improve consumer empowerment levels evenly among these factors.