Title: Mobile food ordering apps adoption: an empirical study based on the transactional theory of stress and coping

Authors: María Eugenia Rodríguez-López; Francisco Liébana-Cabanillas; Elena Higueras-Castillo; Luis Doña-Toledo

Addresses: Faculty of Education, Economy and Technology of Ceuta, University of Granada, C/Cortadura del Valle S/N, 51001 Ceuta, Spain ' Faculty of Economics and Business Management, University of Granada, Campus of Cartuja, 18071, Granada, Spain ' Faculty of Economics and Business Management, University of Granada, Campus of Cartuja, 18071, Granada, Spain ' Faculty of Economics and Business Management, University of Granada, Campus of Cartuja, 18071, Granada, Spain

Abstract: Mobile food ordering apps (MFOAs) are defined as mobile applications that smartphone users can download and use to access restaurants, view a menu, place orders, and pay. Given its untact nature, the interest of researchers is growing in the wake of the pandemic, but the effects of the concern derived from it and the stress caused by this environmental variable have not been studied. The aim of this study is the pioneering application of the transactional theory of stress and coping in the use of MFOA's that reflects the concerns over customer health and the psychological processes behind customer health management. The results of a structural equation modelling analysis of a sample of 247 Spanish individuals indicated that health concerns affected the appraisal of MFOA's as an opportunity for well-being. Intentions towards their use were mainly determined by the coping strategies of the individuals, based on the solution to the problem and to a lesser extent on prior use of paid apps. Interesting implications at both a public and a private level are drawn from the results.

Keywords: consumer psychology; COVID-19; mobile food ordering apps; MFOAs; intention to use; appraisal; coping; restaurants.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMC.2024.140267

International Journal of Mobile Communications, 2024 Vol.24 No.2, pp.194 - 224

Received: 15 Mar 2022
Accepted: 13 Mar 2023
Published online: 01 Aug 2024 *

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