Predicting the Continuance Intention to Use Anti-COVID Mobile App for Crisis Response: Evaluating User Appraisal and Emotion

Abstract

This study examines how users’ appraisals of anti-covid mobile app exert influence on their emotional responses and how it determines their continuance intention to use the app during the period of Covid-19 outbreak in China. There have been several studies in the past that have focused on IT and how it is integrated in curbing the spread of infections during public health crisis. However, there have been very few studies that have concentrated on technology artifacts like the anti-covid mobile app and what stimulate people to continue using the App. The cognitive appraisal theoretical framework provides the basis for the development of the research model used in this study. The study adopts a quantitative research approach and data are gathered from 416 research respondents that use China’s coronavirus mobile health code app and the relationship between different constructs such as appraisal, emotion, and continuance intention to use are critically examined. Also, the mediating role emotion was also considered. Results from structural equation modeling reveals that users’ appraisals of anti-covid mobile app indeed have significant influences on their emotions which then exert significant influence on their continuance intentions to use the App. Emotion was also found to play significant mediating role. Detailed interpretations of results are presented in the analysis section. The theoretical and practical implications are also highlighted, and limitations are also discussed which identified future research directions.