How can I Be as attractive as a Fitness YouTuber in the era of COVID-19? The impact of digital attributes on flow experience, satisfaction, and behavioral intention

Health-Related Communication of Social Media Influencers: A Scoping Review

Social media influencers (SMIs) are an essential part of today's digital media landscape and have the ability to significantly impact the health-related attitudes and behavior of their audiences. Despite an increasing number of studies, research has produced mixed results, and a comprehensive overview of the main findings is lacking. Therefore, the goal of this scoping review was to comprehensively map the literature focusing on SMIs and their health-related communication. Specifically, we analyzed the most frequently studied health topics and social media platforms, the methodological characteristics of the studies, as well as the communication techniques employed by SMIs, and the potential positive and negative effects of their communication on their audience. Additionally, we examined the major research gaps in this area. Altogether, we analyzed n = 116 empirical papers. The results reveal a wide range of different outcomes influenced by SMIs, including both positive and negative changes in health-related attitudes and behavioral intentions among their followers. Furthermore, our findings highlight the need for future research to prioritize experimental and longitudinal studies, investigate actual behavioral outcomes resulting from influencer content exposure, and closely examine the potential negative effects of SMIs' health-related communication. More attention needs to be paid to health-related misinformation disseminated by SMIs. Lastly, this study identified several highly relevant health topics and social media platforms that should be the focus of future research.

A Study on the Characteristics of Sports Athletes' YouTube Channels and User Reactions

This study examined the content characteristics and user responses of athlete-run sports YouTube channels, providing empirical insights for content production strategies and contributing to the development of athlete-run sports YouTube channels. Content analysis was conducted on 3306 videos posted on 20 popular YouTube channels of South Korean athletes from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021. The formal characteristics analyzed included video length, the presence of foreign language subtitles, paid advertisements, and information sources. The content characteristics examined were the types of sports events, main content themes, and whether the content matched the athlete's sport. Results revealed significant differences in content characteristics and user responses based on whether the athletes were active or retired. This study's distinctive contribution lies in highlighting the evolving role of athletes as content creators and providing strategic implications for enhancing the competitiveness of athlete-run sports YouTube channels. Future research should consider a broader range of sports YouTubers and a wider variety of YouTube channels to gain comprehensive insights into the sports content ecosystem on this platform.

Parasocial Interactions in Digital Tourism: Attributes of Live Streamers and Viewer Engagement Dynamics in South Korea

This study investigates the use of live streaming as a strategic tool in the tourism industry, with a focus on the attributes of live streamers that influence viewer engagement, particularly in the context of South Korea's digital landscape. The purpose of this research is to understand how the attractiveness, trustworthiness, and expertise of live streamers can affect the parasocial relationships-characterized by perceived friendship and trust-between viewers and streamers and how these relationships subsequently influence viewer loyalty and cooperation intentions. A quantitative research methodology was employed, utilizing a structured online survey distributed by a leading market research agency in South Korea. The survey targeted a diverse demographic to ensure a comprehensive analysis of digital consumer behavior in the tourism sector. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 28.0 and IBM SPSS Amos 28.0, employing structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships. The results revealed that while attractiveness and trustworthiness impact perceived friendship, only expertise significantly affects trust for a travel live streamer. Furthermore, perceived friendship plays a crucial role in fostering loyalty to and cooperation with the streamer, having practical implications for the tourism industry in terms of crafting marketing strategies and training digital ambassadors. Th study extends parasocial interaction theory to the digital travel domain, providing original insights into virtual tourist behavior and highlighting live streaming's significant contribution to viewer engagement. This research has limitations in its geographical focus on South Korea, suggesting the need for cross-cultural studies to validate the findings. Overall, this study offers valuable contributions to the academic literature and practical guidance for the tourism industry, emphasizing the importance of digital personalities in post-pandemic tourism recovery strategies.

Unpacking the Drivers of Dissatisfaction and Satisfaction in a Fitness Mobile Application

This research investigates the factors influencing user satisfaction and dissatisfaction in fitness mobile applications. It employs Herzberg's two-factor model through text mining to classify Fitbit mobile app attributes into satisfiers and dissatisfiers. The Fitbit app was chosen due to its prevalence in the United States. The study analyzes 100,000 English reviews from the Fitbit app on the Google Play Store, categorizing attributes. It identifies three dissatisfying categories (functional, compatibility, paid services) and three satisfying categories (gratification, self-monitoring, self-regulation), comprising 25 sub-attributes. This classification offers in-depth insights into what drives user contentment or discontent with fitness apps. The findings contribute to the fitness app domain by applying text-mining and Herzberg's model. Researchers can build upon this foundation, and practitioners can use it to enhance app experiences. However, this research relies on user reviews, often lacking comprehensive explanations. This limitation may hinder a profound understanding of the underlying psychological aspects in user sentiments. Nonetheless, this study takes strides toward optimizing fitness apps for users and developers.

Flow's Core Prerequisites: The Role of Servant Leadership, Mindfulness and Work-Life Balance

Flow is an optimal mental state of being completely involved in one's activities. This correlational study explored an important, but rarely validated performance model in the workplace-flow. Building on the JD-R theory we recognized three key prerequisites of flow-servant leadership, work-life balance, and mindfulness. We analyzed 987 survey responses from two industries (service and manufacturing) in China. The study discovered that servant leadership, mindfulness, and work-life balance correlate with individual flow as key prerequisites. Further we discovered that the relationship between mindfulness and flow is moderated by the industry. Particularly, data from the manufacturing industry showed a positive relationship between mindfulness and flow but a negative relationship among service employees. Implications for performance and applied psychology research, theory, and practice are discussed.

Applied artificial intelligence: Acceptance-intention-purchase and satisfaction on smartwatch usage in a Ghanaian context

Technology and its continuous advancement facilitate human beings to get rid of their criticality and limitation. Applied artificial intelligence (AAI) is one of the latest forms that delimited the limitation of human beings. Smartwatch acts as an applied artificial intelligence to assist various patients to check medical care without going to hospital and physicians. This (three) multiple-study research focused on the intention to use, purchase, and their satisfaction and spread positive word of mouth among others in the Ghanaian. To investigate these issues two renowned theories were underpinned- TAM theory and the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R). Total 550, 320, and 170 respondents were interviewed with Google forms due to COVID-19 using social media. AI-enabled smartwatch considering Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU), Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Credibility (PC), Perceived Self-Efficacy (PSE), and Perceived Financial Cost (PFC) were significant on intention to adoption and adoption intention on actual purchase. The final study showed device quality, its service level, their usage experience, perceived value, and the extent to which the satisfied customers made positive word of mouth to their friends and family, colleagues and followers. This research is significant in understanding the usage of AI-enabled smartwatches as a device doctor or electronic doctor (e-doctor).

Exploring the Influential Factors of Personal Media Bloggers on Followers' Continuous Following Intention Based on Relationship Marketing Theory

The use of personal media has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, gaining and retaining followers has become increasingly challenging, given the fierce competition among bloggers and the constant changes in personal media. In this context, this study aims to explore the factors that influence followers' continued usage intentions toward personal media bloggers and strategies to improve their loyalty. Drawing upon the theory of relationship marketing, a structural model is constructed to examine the impacts and mechanisms of personal media bloggers' attributes and communication on social presence, fanship, intention to use, and word of mouth. This research focuses on two dimensions of personal media bloggers' attributes: expertise and attractiveness. A sample of 155 highly active personal media users in China was collected through a questionnaire for analysis and validation. The findings reveal that expertise and communication have positive impacts on followers' intentions to continue following a blogger, while attractiveness has a significant, positive, and direct impact on word of mouth. Furthermore, this study shows that social presence and fanship play mediating roles in the effects of expertise and communication on followers' usage intentions and word of mouth. The research results provide valuable insights for personal media operators and marketers seeking to improve followers' loyalty and encourage potential users to become more loyal fans.

The Impact of Fitness Influencers on a Social Media Platform on Exercise Intention during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Parasocial Relationships

In the context of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, fitness influencers on social media are greatly involved in people's home fitness processes, but there is limited research examining the role of fitness influencers on social media in exercise intention. This study aimed to explore whether people's perceptions of the personal attributes and content quality of fitness influencers can promote a strong emotional connection between the two, thereby influencing people's exercise intentions. Based on the theory of the parasocial relationship, we investigated the influence of social attractiveness (SA), physical attractiveness (PA), task attractiveness (TA), and content quality (CQ) of fitness influencers on the parasocial relationships (PSRs) between viewers and fitness influencers on social media and whether PSRs positively contribute to viewers' exercise intentions (EI). The results revealed that SA, PA, TA, and CQ have positive influences on PSRs and CQ; PSRs directly contribute to EI; and PSRs have a mediating effect between EI and CQ. This study provides new insights into understanding the relationship between fitness influencers and people's online fitness behaviors.

Modeling Community Residents' Exercise Adherence and Life Satisfaction: An Application of the Influence of the Reference Group

To expand the application area of the reference group and enrich exercise theoretical research, based on Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework, this study examines the external factors that motivate adherence to exercise. Taking reference group and strategy and cultural fit as the main stimuli, and personal investment and life satisfaction as mediating variables, this study explores the influence of external stimuli on residents' exercise behavior. In order to enrich the sample size, two surveys of 734 Chinese residents in two cities (Xiamen vs. Fuzhou) were conducted using factor analyses, regression analysis, and t-test analysis. The results indicated that the reference group and strategic and cultural fit as external stimuli impact on residents' personal investment, life satisfaction and exercise adherence, and that personal investment and life satisfaction as the organism has an impact on residents' exercise adherence. Personal investment and life satisfaction play a chain mediating role between the reference group and exercise adherence, and between strategy and cultural fit and exercise adherence. Moreover, the t-test determined the differences between Xiamen and Fuzhou residents' exercise adherence and life satisfaction. Residents' surroundings affect their exercise behavior and life satisfaction. These findings have implications for policymaking aimed at promoting national exercise, which could gradually improve residents' physical fitness, particularly in light of the current coronavirus emergency.

Virtual Fitness: investigating team commitment and post-pandemic virtual workout perceptions

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the fitness landscape leading to phenomenal growth in virtual workouts. This study investigates factors influencing virtual workout team commitment and post-pandemic workout intentions. A conceptual framework is developed that is grounded in the social identity theory. Online data collection is employed to gather responses from 406 team virtual workout participants. Results reveal that virtual workout team participation positively influences team identification, satisfaction, and compliance with team norms. Additionally, virtual workout team identification, satisfaction, and compliance to team norms were found to be antecedents of commitment to the virtual workout team. Commitment to virtual workout teams is revealed to be positively associated with post-pandemic virtual team workout intention and post-pandemic traditional team workout intention. However, the relationship with post-pandemic traditional team workout intentions was found to be stronger. Valuable theoretical and practical insights emerge, providing a better understanding of virtual workout team commitment and how marketers and practitioners can ensure post-pandemic success by better understanding customer behaviour.

Impacts of COVID-19 on the post-pandemic behaviour: The role of mortality threats and religiosity

This study explores the influence of intra-pandemic perceptions on travellers' post-pandemic hotel booking behaviour among crisis-resistant travellers and crisis-sensitive groups. It also examines the moderating role of mortality threats and religiosity on these behaviours. We collected quantitative data utilising survey method via questionnaires to address various levels of the research. We used PLS-SEM to evaluate our proposed model. We collected data from 1580 who had booked hotels in Egypt. Our study indicated that intra-pandemic perception has a stronger effect on travellers’ post-pandemic hotel booking behaviours if the travellers are less religious and feel deeply threatened by the idea of their own level of mortality. Moreover, it revealed that intra-pandemic perceptions had a stronger association with post-pandemic planned behaviour for travellers who chose to cancel their hotel booking plans. Our study also indicated that emergency public information plays a critical role in influencing post-pandemic planned behaviour. Our study offers effective strategies to aid hospitality and tourism practitioners when risky and threating situations such as COVID-19 arise, specifically in the period of response and recovery.

Rise of Social Media Influencers as a New Marketing Channel: Focusing on the Roles of Psychological Well-Being and Perceived Social Responsibility among Consumers

This empirical research investigated the structural relationships between social media influencer attributes, perceived friendship, psychological well-being, loyalty, and perceived social responsibility of influencers, focusing on the perspective of social media users. More specifically, this study conceptually identified social media influencer attributes such as language similarity, interest similarity, interaction frequency, and self-disclosure and examined the respective effects of each dimension on perceived friendship and psychological well-being, consequently resulting in loyalty toward social media influencers. The authors collected and analyzed data from 388 social media users in the United States via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk with multivariate analyses to test the hypothesized associations among the variables in this study. The findings indicated that perceived friendship was significantly influenced by language similarity, interest similarity, and self-disclosure, but did not have a significant impact on psychological well-being. Additionally, perceived friendship significantly affected psychological well-being and loyalty, and psychological well-being significantly influenced loyalty. Lastly, social media influencers’ social responsibility moderated the path from psychological well-being to loyalty. Based on these findings, this study proposes theoretical and managerial implications for the social media influencer marketing context.