Adolescent Purchasing Agents: Key Predictors of Frequent Purchasers

As family structures change, adolescents are playing an increasingly important role as purchasing agents for the family unit. In an exploratory study of high school juniors and seniors, socioeconomic status, participation in household activities, family communication style, and adolescent independence are found to be predictive of adolescents who serve as frequent purchasing agents of grocery items for the family. Expanded research and strategy implications for marketers and retailers who wish to exploit this trend are examined.