Influence of Family on Adolescents’ Impulsive Digital Consumption Behavior: a Literature Review Based on Multidimensional Family Factors

Abstract

Adolescents’ impulsive digital consumption behavior has become increasingly common under digital globalization, and yet its correlation with multiple family factors has not been well explored. The authors conduct a comprehensive review of previous researches on impulsive consumption and family factors and aim to profoundly explain the mechanisms behind the two’s relationship. The authors first summarize the primary research orientation and major focal topics in earlier relevant studies. Next, The authors synthesize a multi-dimensional theoretical framework from the literature, encompassing socialization, power, ecology, platform, and neurocognitive levels, structured from primary to secondary and internal to external influences. Based on the theoretical foundation, the authors explain the influence from different family factors on impulsive digital consumption through the hypothesis that family factors give rise to circumstances where different psychological needs are not satisfied, and the latter trigger impulsive digital consumption correspondingly. This study reaches the conclusion that family factors significantly influence performance of adolescents’ impulsive digital consumption behavior, and that unsatisfied psychological needs work as a mediating variable between the interaction.