Understanding Chinese Undergraduates’ Continuance Intention to Use Mobile Book-Reading Apps: An Integrated Model and Empirical Study

ABSTRACTThe purpose of the current research is to examine the influence of expectation confirmation, network externalities, and flow on word-of-mouth intention and continued use of mobile shopping apps. A structured online survey questionnaire is used to collect data from 363 users of mobile shopping apps. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the research model. The findings reveal that indirect network externalities, i.e., perceived complementarity, influence perceived usefulness of the mobile shopping app. Users’ confirmation of expectations significantly influences perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and continuance intention to use mobile apps. Satisfaction is found to be a significant predictor of continuance intention and word-of-mouth intention. Flow influences satisfaction of users, perceived usefulness, and continuance intention. Word-of-mouth intention is found to be an important post-adoption behavioral outcome. The results provide valuable theoretical insights for academics and managerial implications for providers of mobile shopping apps.

This study aims to determine the factors affecting the continuance intention in using mobile shopping apps and websites. Within the scope of the study, a research model is proposed that integrates an information systems (IS) expectation-confirmation model (ECM), flow theory, and trust. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to analyse data collected from 518 users of the most popular private shopping clubs in Turkey. The results revealed that the variables of perceived usefulness, satisfaction, and enjoyment directly and significantly affected the consumers' continuance intention in using the private shopping clubs' mobile apps and websites. The focus dimension of the flow experience was not found to have a significant effect on either consumer satisfaction or continuous usage intention. Another interesting result of the study is that, contrary to the general belief in the literature, the trust dimension does not have a significant effect on consumers' continuance intention.

BackgroundConsumers are increasingly accessing health-related information via mobile devices. Recently, several apps to rate and locate physicians have been released in the United States and Germany. However, knowledge about what kinds of variables explain usage of mobile physician-rating apps is still lacking.ObjectiveThis study analyzes factors influencing the adoption of and willingness to pay for mobile physician-rating apps. A structural equation model was developed based on the Technology Acceptance Model and the literature on health-related information searches and usage of mobile apps. Relationships in the model were analyzed for moderating effects of physician-rating website (PRW) usage.MethodsA total of 1006 randomly selected German patients who had visited a general practitioner at least once in the 3 months before the beginning of the survey were randomly selected and surveyed. A total of 958 usable questionnaires were analyzed by partial least squares path modeling and moderator analyses.ResultsThe suggested model yielded a high model fit. We found that perceived ease of use (PEOU) of the Internet to gain health-related information, the sociodemographic variables age and gender, and the psychographic variables digital literacy, feelings about the Internet and other Web-based applications in general, patients’ value of health-related knowledgeability, as well as the information-seeking behavior variables regarding the amount of daily private Internet use for health-related information, frequency of using apps for health-related information in the past, and attitude toward PRWs significantly affected the adoption of mobile physician-rating apps. The sociodemographic variable age, but not gender, and the psychographic variables feelings about the Internet and other Web-based applications in general and patients’ value of health-related knowledgeability, but not digital literacy, were significant predictors of willingness to pay. Frequency of using apps for health-related information in the past and attitude toward PRWs, but not the amount of daily Internet use for health-related information, were significant predictors of willingness to pay. The perceived usefulness of the Internet to gain health-related information and the amount of daily Internet use in general did not have any significant effect on both of the endogenous variables. The moderation analysis with the group comparisons for users and nonusers of PRWs revealed that the attitude toward PRWs had significantly more impact on the adoption and willingness to pay for mobile physician-rating apps in the nonuser group.ConclusionsImportant variables that contribute to the adoption of a mobile physician-rating app and the willingness to pay for it were identified. The results of this study are important for researchers because they can provide important insights about the variables that influence the acceptance of apps that allow for ratings of physicians. They are also useful for creators of mobile physician-rating apps because they can help tailor mobile physician-rating apps to the consumers’ characteristics and needs.

In order to test the key factors affecting users' continuance intention of mobile banking Apps, this study combined the Technology acceptance model (TAM) with the perceptual sinteraction model, and further added human-system interaction and perceived privacy security that was not explored in these models before. Data were collected from 349 users who had experience with mobile banking to test the model and were analyzed with a structural equation model. The present study showed that various interactive characteristics of mobile banking (human-human interaction, human-information interaction, human-system interaction) had significant positive impacts on users' perceptions of using mobile banking (perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived privacy security). Users' perceptions of using mobile banking had significantly positive impacts on users' satisfaction with mobile banking, and user satisfaction had a significant impact on users' continuance intention. Users’ income level had a significantly negative impact on their continuance intention. In order to further enhance users’ continuance intention for mobile banking, designers and managers of mobile banking are suggested to pay special attention to the interactive characteristics of mobile banking and the impact on users' perceptions of mobile banking, so as to improve customer satisfaction and continuous intention.

Research indicates that one of the key drivers of the development of m-commerce is the provision of various types of high-quality mobile applications/services (apps). Business managers have thus been devoting themselves into not only attracting new customers but also retaining existing customers. Despite the considerable amount of studies on mobile apps, there are few studies that specifically investigate the effects of mobile-service-related quality factors on m-commerce consumers’ continuance intention regarding specific mobile apps. This study thus develops a research model that describe the relationships among mobile-service-quality factors (interaction quality, environment quality, and outcome quality), customer satisfaction, and the mobile-apps users’ continuance intention. The proposed research model was empirically validated using data collected from the users of mobile apps in Taiwan. The research results indicate that the three quality factors were key determinants of customer satisfaction and continuance intention. Theoretical and practical implications are subsequently discussed.

This study examines the effects of perceived user experience—conceptualized as a multidimensional construct in the context of generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications—on user satisfaction and continuance intention. Grounded in Expectation–Confirmation Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model, and informed by prior empirical and conceptual research, the study proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework in which user experience positively influences user satisfaction, and satisfaction plays a decisive role in shaping users’ intention to continue using generative AI technologies. In addition, user satisfaction is hypothesized to function as a mediating mechanism in the relationship between user experience and continuance intention. The research sample consists of individuals with prior experience using generative AI applications. Data were collected through an online survey administered to 625 participants. Respondents without generative AI usage experience and outliers identified through statistical screening were excluded from the dataset, resulting in 548 valid observations for analysis. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 20 and SmartPLS 4. The validity and reliability of the measurement model were assessed through confirmatory factor analysis, while the proposed hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings indicate that a favorable generative AI user experience significantly and positively enhances user satisfaction, which, in turn, exerts a strong and positive effect on continuance intention. Furthermore, the effect of user experience on continuance intention is found to occur indirectly through user satisfaction. These results highlight the critical role of user experience and satisfaction in fostering the long-term adoption and sustainable use of generative AI applications. The study offers important theoretical and practical contributions to the user-centered design and sustainable development of generative AI technologies.

A novel user-generated content-driven and Kano model focused framework to explore the impact mechanism of continuance intention to use mobile APPs

PurposeAs the competition to retain current and attract new mobile payment app users intensifies, meeting users’ needs has become fundamental for mobile payment app service providers to stay competitive. This study aims to investigate the relationship between users’ needs, users’ attitude towards mobile payment apps and users’ continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.Design/methodology/approachFollowing an exploratory sequential mixed methods research design, this study first conducted three focus groups in the qualitative phase to investigate issues or concerns faced by current users of mobile payment apps. The study then conducted an online questionnaire survey in the quantitative phase to collect responses from users of mobile payment apps. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to analyse 110 valid responses.FindingsFindings show that usefulness (modelled as a second-order reflective construct consisting of three first-order reflective constructs, i.e. ease of use, acceptability and responsiveness), traceability and security had a statistically significant relationship with attitude towards mobile payment apps (which in turn had a statistically significant relationship with continuance intention to use mobile payment apps). It was also found that attitude towards mobile payment mediated the relationships between usefulness, traceability and security; and continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can help mobile payment app service providers and developers design apps that offer the functions and features that their users need.Originality/valueAlthough some recent studies have investigated the adoption of mobile payments in the Malaysian context, few of these studies examined current users’ continuance intention to use mobile payment apps.

The purpose of this research is to elucidate the primary factors influencing users' continuance intention (COIN) of mobile fitness apps, with a focus on three utilitarian variables (perceived service quality [QUAL], monetary value [MVAL], convenience [CONV]) and four hedonic variables (adventure [ADVE], social [SOCI], gratification [GRAT] and idea [IDEA]). Data have been collected from 334 active Turkish users of mobile fitness apps, and structural equation modeling was employed to test the study's hypotheses rigorously. The findings reveal that three utilitarian value constructs (COIN, MVAL, and CONV) and four hedonic value dimensions (ADVE, SOCI, GRAT, IDEA) have a positive effect on users’ COIN. This research uniquely investigates users’ COINs in mobile fitness applications within the context of an emerging economy, leveraging user value constructs. Additionally, it elucidates the enhanced explanatory power of COIN through the integration of utilitarian and hedonic variables.

PurposeMobile social apps permeate every facet of daily life through the pervasive use of smartphones. Customer retention with mobile social apps has become extremely important for app-related companies. The purpose of this paper is to explore why experienced users in mobile social apps (e.g. WeChat) are likely to continue using the app.Design/methodology/approachThis study proposed a conceptual model to identify key determinants of continuance intention of WeChat users and highlight the effects of individual experience. Data were collected from WeChat users, which is one of the most popular mobile social apps in China. The study employed partial least squares regression to test the research model based on a survey of 295 valid responses.FindingsResults showed that trust, which was driven by user satisfaction and perceived critical mass, played a critical role in influencing the continuance intention of WeChat users. Moreover, tie strength exerted a negative moderating effect on the relationship between trust and continuance intention. Specifically, tie strength and perceived critical mass had strong impacts on the continuance intention of low-experience users. In addition, the effect of frequency was closely associated with the continuance intention of high-experience users.Research limitations/implicationsThis study addressed the issue of mobile social app continuance intention by providing an innovative means to explore the key antecedents of user continuance intention from the experience perspective. The findings not only prove that trust plays a central role in influencing the continuance intention of experienced users but also reveal that the determinants of continuance intention vary among users with different experience. The results provide insights into the key antecedents of experienced WeChat user continuance intention and contribute to the literature on mobile social apps and individual differences.Practical implicationsThe results provide suggestions for mobile social app practitioners to effectively plan mobile social app retention practices and to set up appropriate incentive mechanisms for retaining users with different experiences.Originality/valueAlthough abundant studies have focused on the adoption of media users, few studies have investigated the post-adoption behavior of experienced users in the context of mobile social apps. This study revealed the key determinants of the continuance intention of WeChat users and pinpointed the different impacts of these antecedents on users with different levels of experience. It also provides useful guidelines for practitioners to effectively retain users with different levels of experience.

BackgroundThere is significant potential for mobile health technology to improve health outcomes for patients with chronic diseases. However, there is a need for further development of mobile health technology that would help to improve the health of lower-income communities.ObjectiveThe study objective was to assess mobile phone and app usage among a culturally diverse patient population, and to determine whether patients would be interested in using mobile health technology to help manage their chronic diseases.MethodsAn observational study was conducted with patients of the Internal Medicine resident primary care clinics of Los Angeles County and University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center. Self-reported information regarding demographics, current mobile phone usage, current mobile health app and social media usage, barriers to using mobile phones or mobile health apps, and interest in using a mobile health app was collected.ResultsNinety-one percent of patients owned a mobile phone, with 76% (169/223) of these reporting having a mobile phone with Internet capability. Fifty-seven percent of subjects used mobile apps on their mobile phones, and 32% (41/130) of these used mobile apps related to their health. Eighty-six percent (207/241) of respondents voiced interest in using a mobile app to improve their health, and 40% (88/221) stated they would use such an app daily. Patients stated they would find the mobile health app most useful for nutrition, exercise, and obtaining general information on medical conditions.ConclusionsDespite the fact that the majority of our primary care patients were of lower socioeconomic status, they utilized mobile phones with Internet and mobile app capabilities to a great extent. There was substantial interest among our patients in using mobile health technology to both manage chronic disease and improve overall health. Given that cultural, educational, and socioeconomic disparities strongly correlate with higher rates of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension, access to culturally relevant mobile health tools may empower patients in these populations to improve health outcomes.

The impact of inertia and user satisfaction on the continuance intentions to use mobile communication applications: A mobile service quality perspective

The rapid adoption of smartphones in the last few years indicates the changing scenario of communication patterns. The mobile app market is taking prime space in the digital world with high adoption and year-on-year growth rate. Out of all the categories, social media and communication (instant messaging apps) consume more than half of the digital time in most of the countries across the world. Generally, men and women have different patterns for preferences and usage of any particular thing. Similarly, preferences for mobile applications and usage styles also differ amongst them. Literature supports the fact that the usage of mobile apps among women is high compared with men. Thus, this study focused on the impact of satisfaction and attitude on the continuance intention of usage for communication and social media apps among young women. A hypothesized model was developed by the authors to find out the impact of perceived usefulness, enjoyment, and confirmation of expectations on satisfaction and attitude for the continuance usage of communication and social media apps. The data were collected by circulating the questionnaire on online and offline platforms. A total of 263 respondents from four different regions of Gujarat were considered for the analysis, and model validation was done by adopting the structural equation modelling method. The results confirmed that satisfaction was the strongest predictor for the continuance usage of communication and social media apps led by perceived usefulness and confirmation of expectations, while attitude significantly affected continuance usage led by perceived enjoyment.

In this research, we study factors such as brand commitment in order to understand the affect of loyalty and satisfaction on continuance intention with mobile wallet applications in Japan. We developed a research model, based upon previous research constructs, where we propose and examine the four constructs. The main research question in this research is: what is the extent that brand commitment affects satisfaction, loyalty, and continuous intention of Japanese consumers with respect to mobile wallet applications? Two recent data collection efforts yielded a total sample of 513 consumers using mobile wallet apps. While we expected to find brand conscious Japanese consumers to be satisfied and loyal, as well as continuous users of certain mobile apps, our data shows that brand commitment is only statistically significant with satisfaction. This means that brand does not predict consumer loyalty or continuous intention. This finding is interesting, as Japanese consumers have long been known to be brand conscious consumers. There are several potential explanations for this finding, one of which the Japanese consumer mindset is changing. We found supporting literature showing that consumers in Japan are becoming more price conscious. Additionally many of the consumers in our sample were younger in age and might be more price-sensitive.

This study demonstrates that visual quality is an emergent factor in explaining behavioral intention in online shopping, as online retail technology continues to evolve. The researchers develop, and test a model, in augmented reality (AR) and non-AR contexts, explaining the effect of aesthetic appeal of the interface of a mobile retail app and position relevance of a product in the user environment on visual quality of the app. The model explains the influence of visual and service quality on user satisfaction toward the app and the influence of user satisfaction on recommendation intention. The data were collected from 102 mobile app users who were asked to use the view-in-room features on a mobile augmented reality (MAR) app. Another group of 155 mobile app users were requested to search for a product using a typical mobile app search interface. Both groups provided their responses via an online survey. The researchers used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the collected data. Results indicate that the model has superior explanatory power when applied to an AR context. This research also provides key insights for practitioners related to improving the rate of mobile app recommendations by their customers.