Personality and grocery hoarding during a pandemic

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between personality traits and grocery hoarding. Data were obtained from a representative sample of the U.S. population (N = 1,149) through a web-based survey conducted during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Grocery hoarding was assessed as a dichotomous variable, capturing whether respondents stocked up on food or daily necessities beyond their usual purchases during the initial spread of Covid-19. Personality traits were measured using the Big Five Inventory (BFI-10). An independent t-test showed that individuals who engaged in grocery hoarding exhibited higher levels of Extraversion and Agreeableness compared to those who did not. Logistic regression analysis revealed that in the initial step, higher levels of Neuroticism, Extraversion, and Agreeableness significantly predicted grocery hoarding. However, after controlling for age, gender, and residential area, only Neuroticism and Agreeableness remained significant predictors, while Extraversion lost its effect. These findings suggest that grocery hoarding during the early stages of Covid-19 in the U.S. was associated with higher levels of Neuroticism and Agreeableness. The results align with some previous research but diverge from others, highlighting the need for further investigation into the role of personality traits in hoarding behaviors during crises.