Title: Factors and mechanisms influencing the resilience of peer-to-peer accommodation hosts during the COVID-19 crisis: insights from a qualitative study

Authors: Junjing Wang; Maomao Chi; Rui Huang; Wenjing Li

Addresses: School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China ' School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China ' Department of Decision and Information Sciences, Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA, 02747, USA ' School of Economics and Management, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430078, China

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation sector and significantly affected P2P accommodation hosts. The substantial disruption of this sector calls for academic exploration of the mechanisms leading to resilience of P2P accommodation hosts during crises. This qualitative study involved interviews with 19 hosts who successfully navigated the challenges presented by the pandemic. Utilising coping theory and the concept of platform governance, we identified key determinants of host resilience, including threat appraisal, capability appraisal, problem-focused coping strategies, emotion-focused coping strategies, incentive, formal control, and informal control. Our findings revealed that host resilience stemmed from a complex interplay between internal mechanisms and external environment, a dynamic we described as the hosts' coping process. Furthermore, the governance mechanisms of P2P accommodation platform were found to potentially synergise with these coping processes and co-influence resilience outcomes. This study not only extends the application of coping theory to the resilience of micro-entrepreneurs but also provides practical insights for P2P platforms and their hosts to effectively manage and overcome the challenges induced by crises.

Keywords: peer-to-peer; P2P; accommodation platform; host resilience; coping theory; platform governance; crisis management; qualitative study.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2025.148004

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2025 Vol.26 No.2, pp.214 - 238

Received: 26 Jan 2024
Accepted: 18 Jun 2024
Published online: 13 Aug 2025 *

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