Unlocking life satisfaction: the impact of self-image congruence on consumers’ life satisfaction through brand love and brand addiction

Mrad, M., Itani, O.S. and Cui, C. 2025. Unlocking life satisfaction: the impact of self-image congruence on consumers’ life satisfaction through brand love and brand addiction. European Journal of Marketing. 598 (8), pp. 2054-2088. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-02-2024-0103

TitleUnlocking life satisfaction: the impact of self-image congruence on consumers’ life satisfaction through brand love and brand addiction
TypeJournal article
AuthorsMrad, M., Itani, O.S. and Cui, C.
Abstract

Purpose – This study explores how self-image congruence influences life satisfaction, focusing on understanding how brand love and brand addiction mediate these connections. Examining these complex relationships aim to contribute insights into the complex interplay between personal identity, consumer-brand relationships, and overall life satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach – Data was collected from 798 U.S. consumers. The relationships between the variables were evaluated using structural equation modeling.

Findings – The results indicate that ideal self-image congruence negatively affects consumers’ life satisfaction, while actual self-image, brand love, and brand addiction positively contribute to life satisfaction. The study reveals partial mediation of brand addiction between actual/ideal self-image congruence and life satisfaction, but not brand love. In addition, brand love and brand addiction serve as positive serial mediators between actual self-image congruence and life satisfaction, as well as ideal self-image congruence and life satisfaction.

Research implications – This study offers several valuable contributions to the extant literature by showing how actual and ideal image congruence impact life satisfaction. It also enriches the self-image congruence literature by differentiating the effects of actual and self-image congruence on life satisfaction. This research offers a new understanding of the mechanism of self-image congruence's effect on consumer’s life satisfaction through the mediation of consumer-brand relationships.

Practical implications – The study provides insights for researchers and marketing managers and ascertains the significant role self-image congruence may play in consumer’s well-being. It also provides managerial guidelines on humanizing consumer-brand relationships to enhance consumers’ life satisfaction.

Originality/value – These results provide a new outlook on the influence of self-image congruence on consumer’s life satisfaction. The study contributes to the existing literature by exploring the mediating role of consumer’s self-image congruence on life satisfaction through the lenses of consumer-brand relationships and addictive behavior, enriching our understanding of these complex dynamics.

KeywordsLife satisfaction
Ideal self-image congruence
Actual self-image congruence
Brand love
Brand addiction
JournalEuropean Journal of Marketing
Journal citation598 (8), pp. 2054-2088
ISSN0309-0566
Year2025
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited
Accepted author manuscript
License
CC BY-NC 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-02-2024-0103
Publication dates
Published online23 Sep 2025

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