Information Competency and Sustainable Consumption Practices in Korean Adolescents: Dual Mediation Model of Digital Social Relationships and Digital Self-Efficacy

Abstract

Introduction. The problem and the aim of the study. Despite the growing digital competencies among adolescents, their actual engagement in sustainable consumption behaviors remains limited. Furthermore, prior research lacks an integrated understanding of how digital social relationships and digital self-efficacy jointly influence such behaviors. Addressing these gaps, this study examines the effect of adolescents’ information competency on sustainable consumption practices, focusing on the dual mediating roles of digital social relationships and digital self-efficacy. Research methods. A total of 400 middle and high school students in South Korea participated in an online survey conducted between February and April 2024. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro 4.3 (Models 4 and 6). Mediation and dual mediation analyses were employed to explore the hypothesized relationships. Results. The results demonstrated that, first, adolescents exhibited high levels of information competency (M=3.815/5), digital social connectedness (M=3.145/5), and digital self-efficacy (M=3.897/5), whereas their engagement in sustainable consumption behaviors was relatively low (M=2.986/5). Second, digital social relationships were found to partially mediate the relationship between information competency and sustainable consumption practices (indirect effect = .039, 95% CI [.007, .084]). Third, digital self-efficacy also partially mediated this relationship (indirect effect = .133, 95% CI [.052, .220]). Fourth, the dual mediation model confirmed a complete mediation effect, indicating that these digital factors fully explained the pathway from information competency to sustainable consumption behaviors (indirect effect = .006, 95% CI [.000, .015]). These findings underscore the significance of digital education and social motivation in fostering sustainable consumption behaviors among youth. Conclusion. This study confirmed that digital social relationships and digital self-efficacy fully mediate the relationship between information competency and sustainable consumption among Korean adolescents. The findings emphasize the necessity of promoting not only digital skills but also meaningful online interactions and digital confidence to encourage sustainable consumer practices among the younger generation.