The Effect of Message Construal Level, Temporal Distance and Consumer's SNS Self-efficacy on Consumers' Attitude Toward SNS Fashion Advertisements

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the construal level and temporal distance of a message and consumer's Social Network Service (SNS) self-efficacy on consumers' attitudes toward SNS fashion advertising. This study employed a 2 (message configuration: high construal level/low construal level) 2 (temporal distance: distant future/near future) 2 (SNS self-efficacy: high/low) between-subject factorial design. The survey was conducted on Facebook users in their twenties (N=216). The results are as follows: First, attitude toward SNS fashion advertising and purchase intention was higher when the message construal level was lower and when the temporal distance was closer. Second, no interactions between temporal distance and message construal level for attitude toward SNS advertising and purchase intention were found in this study. However, interactions between temporal distance and SNS self-efficacy for attitude toward SNS advertising and purchase intention were found. When the SNS self-efficacy was high, message with the low construal level reacted significantly positive in terms of attitude toward the ad as well as purchase intention. It is expected that this study will provide insight for apparel makers or retailers to use SNS as a new advertising media for fashion marketing. Practical implications and limitations are discussed.