Antecedents and intervention mechanisms of institutional distrust of P2P accommodations during COVID-19 in China
International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management
ISSN: 0959-6119
Article publication date: 19 December 2022
Issue publication date: 31 March 2023
Abstract
Purpose
COVID-19 affects the peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation industry. With regard to prospect theory, individuals’ negative emotions, such as institutional distrust, are easily evoked and impede consumption intention in an environment of permeating uncertainty and risks. While existing research indicates the negative effects of institutional distrust, scant research has explored its antecedents and intervention mechanisms. This study thus aims to unveil the influencing factors and explore mitigating mechanisms of customers’ institutional distrust of P2P accommodations.
Design/methodology/approach
Online reviews data were used to identify the underlying critical issues. The authors developed a model to depict how institutional distrust is formed under the boundary condition of subjective norm by the results. The model was verified using a questionnaire survey. Finally, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to ensure its robustness.
Findings
The external environment and internal platform effectiveness are two critical aspects affecting institutional distrust of P2P accommodations. The external environment influences institutional distrust through perceived threat, explaining the formation mechanism of customers’ institutional distrust through customers’ internal psychology. Furthermore, the authors found subjective norm moderating the effect of perceived threat on customers’ institutional distrust.
Research limitations/implications
This is one of the first studies, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, to explore institutional distrust of P2P accommodations after COVID-19. The finding contributes to studies on P2P accommodation by uncovering the contingent role of subjective norm in influencing customers’ institutional distrust.
Originality/value
This is a pioneering study that explores the antecedents and mitigating mechanisms of institutional distrust of P2P accommodations during the new normal of COVID-19.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 72001005), China National Office for Philosophy and Social Science (20ZDA067), and National Social Science Foundation of China (16ZDA082) for providing funding for part of this research.
Citation
Fu, S., Yang, J. and Su, L. (2023), "Antecedents and intervention mechanisms of institutional distrust of P2P accommodations during COVID-19 in China", International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 1511-1538. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-12-2021-1530
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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