Visual effect of air pollution on the need for arousal and variety-seeking behavior

Research on air pollution, one of the most common environmental factors, has primarily focused on its effects on physical, mental, and cognitive health. However, air pollution-induced achromatic color of an environment, which is a prominent feature of air pollution, has received little attention. This study explored the visual effects of air pollution on the variety-seeking purchase behavior of consumers through two scenario-based experiments and primed manipulation (Study 1 and Study 2) and one natural experiment using data from a local fruit chain store (Study 3). Study 1 tested the main effect of air pollution on the variety-seeking behavior and found that primed air pollution increased variety-seeking when consumers purchased beverages. Study 2 broadened the category and tested the mechanism, and the results indicated that primed air pollution increased the variety of purchased chocolates and demonstrated the mediating effect of the need for arousal. Study 3 tested the boundary condition and extended the external validity with actual purchases. The results revealed that severe air pollution increased the purchased SKUs by 22.9% and visibility reduced the moderation effect. This research extended the literature on the visual effect of air pollution by providing evidence of the effects of air pollution on variety-seeking behavior through the need for arousal. And, product managers could leverage the results by offering a greater variety of goods on days with air pollution to increase sales.