Antecedents and outcomes of attachment towards smartphone applications
by Chung K. Kim; Mina Jun; Jeongsoo Han; Miyea Kim; Joshua Y. Kim
International Journal of Mobile Communications (IJMC), Vol. 11, No. 4, 2013

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine how consumers' attachment towards mobile applications is influenced by the antecedent variables, self-connection and social-connection, and how the attachment influences the outcome variables, brand supportive behaviours, self-efficacy and ultimately life satisfaction. To formally examine the phenomenon of mobile consumption, we borrow theoretical frameworks such as attachment theory and the broaden-and-build theory, from well-established existing studies. Our analysis of survey data from Korean consumers reveals that the more users feel self-connected or socially connected with mobile applications, the stronger they build attachment with the applications. It also shows that when users have stronger attachment with applications, they show not only more supportive Words-Of-Mouth (WOM) for the mobile applications, but also higher self-efficacy and higher life satisfaction, in general. Several important managerial implications are provided for managers and marketers to help make powerful mobile applications for effective mobile communications.

Online publication date: Thu, 03-Apr-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Mobile Communications (IJMC):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com