How individual characteristics and social capital shape users’ continuance intentions of smart wearable products?

Abstract Given the rapid popularity of smart wearable products, users' continuance intentions are increasingly important. Research concerning the continuance intentions to adopt smart wearable products has received some attention from scholars, but previous studies were more “technology-driven” rather than “consumer-driven” and largely neglected how different configurations (specific combinations of variables) affect users' intentions to continue adopting smart wearable products. This research, which is based on the means-end chain theory, tests the factors affecting the continuance intentions to adopt smart wearable products. Through an analysis of the survey results of 249 smartwatch and fitness wristband users by Mplus and fsQCA, the findings reveal that face consciousness was a strong predictor of users’ perceived value. The three dimensions of social capital had a different positive effect on perceived value. Social, utilitarian, and hedonic value positively affected continuance intention and this research further shows that the different combinations of nine configurations of individual characteristics, social capital, and perceived value could explain the impact of the continued adoption of smart wearable products.