ABSTRACT

This research intends to understand the relationship between aesthetics and young people's intention to continue using smartphones. In particular, the study validates a research model that proposes aesthetics as an antecedent of variables that explain the intention to continue using smartphones (performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and habit). An online questionnaire was conducted to develop the empirical study in two countries of South America, using a non-random sample of young smartphone users. A total of 306 valid answers were analysed using a structural equation modelling approach. The validation of the research model was based on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate, on the one hand, the validation of the scale of measurement of smartphone aesthetics in Latin America and, on the other hand, the research model explains 52% of the intention to continue using a smartphone. In conclusion, the findings support the idea that aesthetics is a necessary antecedent to explain the continued use of smartphones. This study contributes to the professional field of marketing and design in the sense of understanding what makes young smartphone consumers continue using them.

摘要

本研究旨在了解审美与年轻人继续使用智能手机的意愿之间的关系。特别是，该研究验证了一个研究模型，该模型将美学作为解释继续使用智能手机的意图的变量（性能预期、享乐动机和习惯）的前因。使用非随机年轻智能手机用户样本进行了在线问卷调查，以在南美洲的两个国家开展实证研究。使用结构方程建模方法分析了总共 306 个有效答案。研究模型的验证基于偏最小二乘结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）。结果表明，一方面，拉丁美洲的智能手机美学测量规模得到了验证，并且，另一方面，研究模型解释了 52% 的继续使用智能手机的意图。总之，研究结果支持这样一种观点，即美学是解释智能手机持续使用的必要前提。从了解是什么让年轻的智能手机消费者继续使用它们的意义上，这项研究有助于营销和设计的专业领域。