Wentao Zhang

Type of the article: Research Article

Abstract
Consumer-oriented sustainable consumption research has grown rapidly, but its psychological foundations and decision-related themes remain dispersed across different research streams. To clarify this field, this article analyzes 2,730 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period from 1991 to January 21, 2026. VOSviewer and CiteSpace were used to examine publication trends, leading sources, influential authors and documents, cited-author co-citation networks, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution, and recent research fronts. The results show three main stages of development: an exploratory stage from 1991 to 2009, a theoretical integration stage from 2010 to 2016, and a rapid expansion stage from 2017 to 2025. The co-citation analysis identifies four intellectual foundations: behavioral decision models, normative and value-based explanations, the intention-behavior gap, and green consumption research. The keyword analysis shows that the field is organized around sustainable consumption and ethical or food-related behavior; consumer attitudes and green purchase behavior; perceived value and trust; and pro-environmental values and beliefs. Recent themes include circular economy, environmental consciousness, perceived value, green products, young consumers, and social media. The study contributes by linking the intellectual base, thematic structure, and temporal development of sustainable consumption research within a consumer-focused framework.