IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v11y2019i24p7154-d297768.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Effects of SNS Social Capital on E-Service Quality and Sustained Referral Intentions of E-Fitness Apparel: Comparative Body Image Satisfaction Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Changhyun Nam

    (Department of Apparel, Events, and Hospitality Management, Iowa State University, 31 Mackay Hall, 2302 Osborn Drive, Ames, IA 50011-1078, USA)

  • Jihyeong Son

    (Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Washington State University, Johnson Hall Annex C19, Pullman, WA 99164-6406, USA)

  • Jae-Gu Yu

    (Department of Sport Industry, Chungang University, Admin Office, Surim Gym, Seodong-daero, Daedock-myeon, Anseong, Seoul 17456, Korea)

Abstract

Fitness apparel companies target consumers with easy access to social media (e.g., Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest). However, fitness apparel companies have struggled to incorporate social interactivity into their marketing strategies due to a lack of knowledge about consumers’ social media behaviors and different country contexts. The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) comparison of college students’ body image satisfaction in both the United States (U.S.) and South Korea and (2) how their body satisfaction influences consumer communication and the sustained referral intentions of fitness apparel in social media. The findings from 1144 survey responses of U.S. and South Korean college students reveal that student body satisfaction differs between the two countries. Body-dissatisfied U.S. and South Korean students with social capital on social networking websites are directly influenced by word-of-mouth regarding online fitness apparel purchases. Furthermore, perceived e-service quality, including website design and website responsiveness, is a significant mediator in both cultures, affecting the word-of-mouth for fitness-related purchases. This study provides evidence for marketers of fitness apparel, particularly e-marketers, to consider the cultural differences in customer preferences and customer body satisfaction, so as to enhance service performance.

Suggested Citation

  • Changhyun Nam & Jihyeong Son & Jae-Gu Yu, 2019. "Effects of SNS Social Capital on E-Service Quality and Sustained Referral Intentions of E-Fitness Apparel: Comparative Body Image Satisfaction Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7154-:d:297768
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7154/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/24/7154/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jie Zhang & Terry Daugherty, 2009. "Third-Person Effect and Social Networking: Implications for Online Marketing and Word-of-Mouth Communication," American Journal of Business, Emerald Group Publishing, vol. 24(2), pages 53-63.
    2. Huang, Li-Ting, 2016. "Flow and social capital theory in online impulse buying," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 2277-2283.
    3. D. Veena Parboteeah & Joseph S. Valacich & John D. Wells, 2009. "The Influence of Website Characteristics on a Consumer's Urge to Buy Impulsively," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 60-78, March.
    4. Chi, Ting & Kilduff, Peter P.D., 2011. "Understanding consumer perceived value of casual sportswear: An empirical study," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 18(5), pages 422-429.
    5. Gunawan, Dedy Darsono & Huarng, Kun-Huang, 2015. "Viral effects of social network and media on consumers’ purchase intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(11), pages 2237-2241.
    6. Jie Zhang & Terry Daugherty, 2009. "Third‐Person Effect and Social Networking: Implications for Online Marketing and Word‐of‐Mouth Communication," American Journal of Business, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 24(2), pages 53-64, October.
    7. Md. Alamgir Hossain & Minho Kim, 2018. "Does Multidimensional Service Quality Generate Sustainable Use Intention for Facebook?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-15, July.
    8. Park, Eun Joo & Kim, Eun Young & Funches, Venessa Martin & Foxx, William, 2012. "Apparel product attributes, web browsing, and e-impulse buying on shopping websites," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 65(11), pages 1583-1589.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Huang, Li-Ting, 2016. "Flow and social capital theory in online impulse buying," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 2277-2283.
    2. Yang Zhao & Yixuan Li & Ning Wang & Ruoxin Zhou & Xin (Robert) Luo, 2022. "A Meta-Analysis of Online Impulsive Buying and the Moderating Effect of Economic Development Level," Information Systems Frontiers, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 1667-1688, October.
    3. Hossain Md. Motaher & Zahidul Islam K. M. & Masud Abdullah Al & Biswas Sukanta & Hossain Md. Alamgir, 2021. "Behavioral intention and continued adoption of Facebook: An exploratory study of graduate students in Bangladesh during the Covid-19 pandemic," Management, Sciendo, vol. 25(2), pages 153-186, December.
    4. Robert Stefko & Radovan Bacik & Richard Fedorko & Maria Olearova, 2022. "Gender-generation characteristic in relation to the customer behavior and purchasing process in terms of mobile marketing," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(1), pages 181-223, March.
    5. Kimiagari, Salman & Asadi Malafe, Neda Sharifi, 2021. "The role of cognitive and affective responses in the relationship between internal and external stimuli on online impulse buying behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    6. Kee-Young Kwahk & Byoungsoo Kim, 2017. "Effects of social media on consumers’ purchase decisions: evidence from Taobao," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 11(4), pages 803-829, December.
    7. Yue Huang & Lu Suo, 2021. "The Effects of Social Capital on Chinese Consumers’ Online Impulse Buying in Social Commerce Environment," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(8), pages 1-1, August.
    8. Wu, Ing-Long & Chen, Kuei-Wan & Chiu, Mai-Lun, 2016. "Defining key drivers of online impulse purchasing: A perspective of both impulse shoppers and system users," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 284-296.
    9. Zafar, Abaid Ullah & Shahzad, Mohsin & Ashfaq, Muhammad & Shahzad, Khuram, 2023. "Forecasting impulsive consumers driven by macro-influencers posts: Intervention of followers' flow state and perceived informativeness," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    10. Muhammad Danish Habib, Abdul Qayyum, 2018. "Cognitive Emotion Theory and Emotion-Action Tendency in Online Impulsive Buying Behavior," Journal of Management Sciences, Geist Science, Iqra University, Faculty of Business Administration, vol. 5(1), pages 86-99, March.
    11. Yi Yong Lee & Chin Lay Gan & Tze Wei Liew, 2023. "Do E-wallets trigger impulse purchases? An analysis of Malaysian Gen-Y and Gen-Z consumers," Journal of Marketing Analytics, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(2), pages 244-261, June.
    12. Wang, Xia & Yu, Chunling & Wei, Yujie, 2012. "Social Media Peer Communication and Impacts on Purchase Intentions: A Consumer Socialization Framework," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 26(4), pages 198-208.
    13. Maria MURRAY SVIDRONOVA & Alena KASCAKOVA & Gabriela BAMBUSEKOVA, 2019. "Social Media In The Presidential Election Campaign: Slovakia 2019," REVISTA ADMINISTRATIE SI MANAGEMENT PUBLIC, Faculty of Administration and Public Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 2019(33), pages 181-194, December.
    14. Edward C. S. Ku & Chun-Der Chen, 2020. "Flying on the clouds: how mobile applications enhance impulsive buying of low cost carriers," Service Business, Springer;Pan-Pacific Business Association, vol. 14(1), pages 23-45, March.
    15. Islam, Tahir & Pitafi, Abdul Hameed & Arya, Vikas & Wang, Ying & Akhtar, Naeem & Mubarik, Shujaat & Xiaobei, Liang, 2021. "Panic buying in the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-country examination," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    16. Onofrei, George & Filieri, Raffaele & Kennedy, Lorraine, 2022. "Social media interactions, purchase intention, and behavioural engagement: The mediating role of source and content factors," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 100-112.
    17. Akram, Umair & Ansari, Aisha Rehman & ulhaq, Irfan & Yan, Chen, 2023. "Cosmetics makers have always sold ‘hope in a jar’! Understanding the cosmetics purchase intention in the Chinese mobile commerce environment," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    18. Payal S. Kapoor & K.R. Jayasimha & Ashish Sadh, 2013. "Brand-related, Consumer to Consumer, Communication via Social Media," IIM Kozhikode Society & Management Review, , vol. 2(1), pages 43-59, January.
    19. Lo, Pei-San & Dwivedi, Yogesh K. & Wei-Han Tan, Garry & Ooi, Keng-Boon & Cheng-Xi Aw, Eugene & Metri, Bhimaraya, 2022. "Why do consumers buy impulsively during live streaming? A deep learning-based dual-stage SEM-ANN analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 325-337.
    20. Nezahat EKİCİ & Bayram ZAFER, 2019. "Reklamlarda Üçüncü Kişi Algısının Yanlı İyimserlik Bağlamında Değerlendirilmesi: Türkiye ve Kanada Karşılaştırması," Istanbul Business Research, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 48(2), pages 313-334, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:24:p:7154-:d:297768. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.