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Distinguishing the Spending Preferences of Seniors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Zachary Zimmer  and
Neena L. Chappell
Zachary Zimmer
Affiliation:
University of Victoria*
Neena L. Chappell
Affiliation:
University of Victoria*
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Abstract

One thousand, four hundred and six seniors were asked about their consumer spending preferences. While some could name a product spending preference, others could not. This study examines the characteristics that best distinguish those elders who are uninterested in spending on consumer products from those who choose product specific preferences. Discriminant function analyses show that age best distinguishes the non-interested group from the others, supporting a previous report by Walker and Schwenk (1991). Income and health status most reliably separate those whose most important spending priority is a recreational product from those most interested in basic needs or housing products. Those whose spending priority is a housing item tend to be home-owners who have lived in their residences for long periods of time. The results confirm that the heterogeneity among seniors documented in other areas (such as health and social characteristics) extends to their consumption preferences. The diversity in spending preferences can be understood in terms of a desire to enhance quality of life.

Résumé

Mille quatre cent six aînés furent interrogés sur leurs préférences en tant que consommateurs. Alors que certains pouvaient nommer des produits qu'ils préféraient, d'autres ne le pouvaient pas. La présente étude examine les caractéristiques qui définissent le mieux les aînés qui ne s'intéressent pas à l'achat de produits de consommation par rapport à ceux qui expriment leurs préférences particulières. À l'aide de discriminants, les analyses montrent que l'âge est ce qui distingue le mieux les personnes non-intéressées des autres; cela va à l'appui d'une étude antérieure de Walker et Schwenk (1991). Le revenu et la santé sont ce qui distingue de la façon la plus fiable les personnes, pour qui l'achat de produits de loisir constitue la dépense la plus importante, des personnes qui s'intéressent principalement à des besoins fondamentaux ou aux produits domestiques. Les personnes, qui dépensent principalement pour des articles domestiques, sont souvent propriétaires d'une maison qu'ils habitent depuis longtemps. Les résultats confirment que chez les aînés, l'hétérogénéité dans d'autres domaines (comme la santé et les habitudes sociales) s'étend à leurs préférences en tant que consommateurs. La diversité qui s'exprime dans le choix des produits de consommation s'explique par le désir d'une meilleure qualité de vie.

Keywords

SeniorsHeterogeneityConsumer IssuesSpending PreferencesDiscriminant Analysis.Aînéshétérogénéitéenjeux de consommationproduits préférésanalyse discriminante.
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , Spring/printemps 1996 , pp. 65 - 83
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1996

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