This study aims to identify the effects of the perceived value of healing foods on consumers’ psychological well-being and behavioral intention. With the recent expansion of wellness tourism and health-oriented dietary culture, healing foods have dr...
This study aims to identify the effects of the perceived value of healing foods on consumers’ psychological well-being and behavioral intention. With the recent expansion of wellness tourism and health-oriented dietary culture, healing foods have drawn increasing attention as a multidimensional food experience that offers not only physical recovery but also emotional stability, self-care benefits, and a sense of cultural belonging. Although Jeollabuk-do possesses abundant natural resources, fermentation-based food culture, and local ingredients suitable for healing food development, empirical studies examining the relationships among consumers’ perceived value, psychological responses, and behavioral intention remain insufficient. To achieve the research objectives, this study reviewed prior literature on healing foods, perceived value, psychological well-being, and behavioral intention, and subsequently established a research model and hypotheses. An online self-administered survey was conducted with adults who had experienced healing foods in Jeollabuk-do from November 10 to 14, 2025, and a total of 300 valid responses were used for analysis. Based on the collected data, frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, reliability testing, correlation analysis, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 28.0. Through these analyses, a range of academic and practical implications were derived. The results of this study are as follows. First, all sub-dimensions of the perceived value of healing foods had a significant positive effect on psychological well-being.
Second, emotional, epistemic, and social values showed significant positive effects on behavioral intention, whereas functional value did not. This indicates that consumers perceive healing foods not merely as functional food products but as a multidimensional value experience encompassing emotional healing, relational meaning, and regional identity. Such non-functional value was found to be a key factor influencing final behavioral intentions, including repurchase, revisit, and recommendation intentions. Third, psychological well-being had a significant positive effect on behavioral intention, implying that higher levels of psychological well-being strengthen consumers’ intention to use or reuse healing foods. This study empirically demonstrates that the perceived value of healing foods comprises a multidimensional structure extending beyond health benefits or functional efficacy to include emotional and social dimensions. It also clarifies the process through which healing food experiences enhance consumers’ psychological well-being and subsequently lead to behavioral responses such as revisit, recommendation, and continued use. These findings provide meaningful academic and practical implications for the development of Jeollabuk-do–based healing foods, wellness tourism strategies, and foodservice brand planning. Future research should incorporate diverse methodological approaches, including qualitative interviews, participant observation, and case studies, to explore more deeply the meanings and value perceptions associated with healing food experiences.