Based on protection motivation theory, this study aims to identify factors that influence the intention to decrease problematic smartphone game use, including the effects of a gaming habit and subjective norms. The research model is tested with a scenario‐based survey method. Players' perceived threat refers to the negative consequences (eg, reduced performance or social isolation) that are caused by problematic smartphone game use. The findings indicate that under high fear appeals, threat appraisal creates fearful emotions about suffering from the negative consequences, which further reduces the gaming habit and activates the intention to decrease use. Self‐efficacy in decreasing game playing, the response efficacy of decreasing usage in avoiding the threat and subjective norms effectively promote users' intention to decrease use. Moreover, response costs reduce the intention to decrease use. The findings provide insights into how to activate users' intention to decrease problematic use, and the resulting implications are discussed.

中文翻译：

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减少信息系统的问题使用：对智能手机游戏玩家的实证调查

本研究基于保护动机理论，旨在确定影响减少有问题的智能手机游戏使用意愿的因素，包括游戏习惯和主观规范的影响。研究模型采用基于情景的调查方法进行测试。玩家感知到的威胁是指由有问题的智能手机游戏使用引起的负面后果（例如，性能下降或社交孤立）。研究结果表明，在高恐惧诉求下，威胁评估会产生对遭受负面后果的恐惧情绪，从而进一步减少游戏习惯并激活减少使用的意图。减少玩游戏的自我效能感、减少使用对规避威胁的反应效能和主观规范有效地促进了用户减少使用的意愿。此外，响应成本降低了减少使用的意图。研究结果提供了有关如何激活用户减少问题使用的意图的见解，并讨论了由此产生的影响。