Effects of Individuals' Cultural Orientations and Trust in Government Health Communication Sources on Behavioral Intentions During a Pandemic: A Cross-Country Study

Public health messages disseminated by trusted government authorities are likely to have more influence over individuals' intentions and behaviors. However, individuals worldwide have different levels of trust in government authorities, which leads to varying levels of compliance intentions. Additionally, these trust levels may vary during major public crises, such as pandemics. Based on a COVID-19 pandemic communication survey (N = 3,065) disseminated throughout six countries (Australia, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, and the United States), this study examined the association among trust in distinct government sources, cultural orientations, and health behavioral intentions. Findings indicated that trust in official health communication sources at four governmental levels (i.e. national government, the head of the national government, the national health authority, and the chief representative of the national health authority) was related to vaccination intentions and other behavioral compliance intentions (i.e. willingness to prevent COVID-19 infection in other ways). Meanwhile, these direct associations were mediated by the cultural orientations of power distance and uncertainty avoidance. Findings also revealed that the direct association of trust in government sources and the indirect relationship through the above cultural orientations varied by country. This study offers insight into the important role of credible sources and individuals' cultural orientations in the domain of health communication aimed at influencing behavioral intentions.

“Hi! How can I help you today?”: investigating the quality of chatbots–millennials relationship within the fashion industry

Purpose

Chatbots represent one of the most relevant trends within the communication settings and the management of relationships with consumers. New generations, such as millennials are favourable to interact with chatbots instead of human service assistants as they recognise the benefit linked to the technological advancements. Based on these premises, the paper intends to investigate what are the main factors affecting the quality of millennials–chatbots relationships and the new generations’ attitude and intention of using them within a specific industry such as the fashion one.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve the aim, an online survey based on Likert-scale items from previous research has been implemented to test developed hypotheses. Construct reliability and discriminant validity of the hypothetical research model has been tested. Additionally, a partial least square analysis technique has been used with a bootstrapping technique for evaluating the significance level of path analysis.

Findings

A total of 191 responses have been collected. Most of millennials have familiarity with the concept of chatbot (52.4%). Perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) of chatbots positively influence the attitude towards using them by millennials. Attitude towards using chatbots positively influence the behavioural intention to use chatbots. Finally, also perceived trust and perceived risk affect the behavioural intention to use chatbots.

Research limitations/implications

This study enriches the stream of research focused on investigating the acceptance of new technologies and their use for the development of high-quality relationships with customers. This study presents some limitations: the research model has been tested by using a convenient sample; then the study has been tailored for investigating millennials' perceptions in a specific industry; finally, the study focused on relational variables as determinants of using chatbots.

Practical implications

This study provides professionals operating in the fashion industry with practical and managerial insights relating to the perceptions collected among a precise customer cluster represented by millennials.

Originality/value

The paper investigates millennials' perceptions about chatbots within a specific industry related to the fashion system. Additionally, the paper explores at what extent relational variables such as trust and risk could affect the quality of millennials–chatbots relationship.