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Effect of smartphone addiction on compulsive app downloading tendency: protective factors for generation Z consumers

Nadia Jimenez (Department of Economics and Business Administration, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain.)
Sonia San Martin (Department of Economics and Business Administration, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain.)
Paula Rodríguez-Torrico (Department of Economics and Business Administration, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain.)

Young Consumers

ISSN: 1747-3616

Article publication date: 15 April 2024

Issue publication date: 20 November 2024

283

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on how smartphone addiction impacts young consumer behavior related to mobile technology (i.e. the compulsive app downloading tendency). After a thorough literature review and following the risk and protective factors framework, this study explores factors that could mitigate its effects (resilience, family harmony, perceived social support and social capital).

Design/methodology/approach

The study used the covariance-based structural equation modeling approach to analyze data collected from 275 Generation Z (Gen Z) smartphone users in Spain.

Findings

Results suggest that resilience is a critical factor in preventing smartphone addiction, and smartphone addiction boosts the compulsive app downloading tendency, a relevant downside for younger Gen Z consumers.

Originality/value

Through the lens of the risk and protective factors framework, this study focuses on protective factors to prevent smartphone addiction and its negative side effects on app consumption. It also offers evidence of younger consumers’ vulnerability to smartphone addiction, not because of the device itself but because of app-consumption-related behaviors.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to funding by the European Comission, under an Erasmus+ project with reference 2019-1-ES01-KA201-064250.

Citation

Jimenez, N., San Martin, S. and Rodríguez-Torrico, P. (2024), "Effect of smartphone addiction on compulsive app downloading tendency: protective factors for generation Z consumers", Young Consumers, Vol. 25 No. 6, pp. 665-686. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-09-2023-1870

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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