The Role of Spiritual Engagement and Organizational Resilience in Fear Appeals and Panic Buying Behavior in the Context of COVID-19: A Protection-Motivation Theory Approach

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between fear of unknown and panic buying behavior in the context of COVID-19. Building on the protection-motivation theory (PMT), the study extends the model by investigating ‘how’ the severity of threat and cyberchondria facilitates/deters the relationship of fear of unknown and panic buying behavior when spiritual engagement and organizational resilience act as boundary conditions.