Abstract:
The research was conducted to evaluate the mediatr$g effect of anxiety to the
influencing factors of consumer panic buying behaviour. As a developing country, Sri
Lanka is undergoing continuously changes for many reasons. It may be cause cf
volatility of politics, economic crisis, natural disaster or even may be epidemic or
pandemic like Covid-19. So, to manage those situations customers involve in panic
buying the goods, which occurs when customers are found to be stocking up on goods
to avoid the effects of a possible future shortage and commodities that have increased
in price.
In this research only psychological factors that are affect to the panic buying behaviour
is concern. The objective of the research is to identify the mediating effect of anxiety
to the influencing factors (uncertainty, perceived severity and perceived scarcity) of
panic buying behaviour'.
Primary data was collected through a well-structured questiorrnaire. Second ary data
was collected through web sites, books, articles, joumals and desk research which were
carried out previouslv on panic buying behaviour. The questionnaire consisted with
five-point Likert scaling questions to analyze the relationship between the variables. A
conceptual framework was developed to investigate the level, impact, relationship and
mediating effect between these variables. The research was carried out using the
correlation analysis to test the hypotheses, which measure the relationship of these
variables. A total of 385 respondents were selected as a sample in the Ratnapura area
state grocery store customers to carry out the research. Convenience sampling method
which comes under non-probability sampling was used in collecting data and
descriptive statistics and inferential statistics was used to analyze the same data. The
findings of the study rcveal that there is a strong positive relationship between consumer
panic buying behaviour and perceived severity, uncertainty, perceived scarcity and
anxiety. Also, there is a significant positive impact of perceived severity, uncertainty,
perceived scarcity and anxiety on the consumer panic buying behaviour. And, anxiety
mediates the relationship between consumer panic buying behaviour and perceived
severity, uncertainty, perceived scarcity and anxiety
