Does COVID-19 change consumers' involvement in e-commerce last-mile delivery? An investigation on behavioural change, maintenance and habit formation

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerates e-commerce adoption, which naturally induces an expedited acceptance of innovative last-mile deliveries. Focusing on self-collection via parcel lockers technology, this study investigates consumers' behavioural change, maintenance and habit formation related to e-commerce deliveries in response to the pandemic. We use a survey instrument for data collection (n = 500) and structural equation modelling for data analysis. Anchored on the risk–attitude–norm–ability–self-regulation (RANAS) framework, this study found that risk, attitude, norm, ability and self-regulation factors related to using the contactless shopping-delivery channel lead to the formation of self-collection habits, and that the formation process is fully mediated by consumers' maintenance motivation to use the channel. Furthermore, consumers' online shopping habit partially mediates the relationship between the maintenance motivation and self-collection habit formation. Consumers who were already frequent online shoppers before the pandemic are less likely to pick up self-collection as a habit during the pandemic. Additionally, model comparisons are conducted which reveal the differentiated habit formation processes. The findings contribute to a theoretical understanding of the formation of delivery habit as driven by the pandemic. Practical implications are also created which guide logistics and e-commerce operators' interactions with consumers in the post-pandemic period.

Consumer logistics in contemporary shopping: a synthesised review

Contemporary shopping is experiencing rapid changes with the increasing ubiquity of technologies that can be utilised to create seamless omni-channel experiences. These changes have logistics-related implications for end-consumers. Adopting Bowersox (1978)'s [Logistics management. New York: Macmillan] categorisation of logistics activities, this study comprises a synthesised review of scattered consumer logistics literature to bring order and structure to this evolving research field. It is found that an omni-channel shopping environment enables the dynamic transfer of logistics activities between business operators and consumers;However, this interaction does not extend to the post-shopping last-mile context. Instead, last-mile logistics is characterised by a somewhat rigid extension/shift of logistics obligations to/from consumers. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a self-service and technology-dependence trend in consumer logistics, leading to the more active control of logistics activities by consumers. Four propositions along with a unified framework are proposed, based on which a list of future research questions is suggested. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Transport Reviews is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Psychological antecedents of telehealth acceptance: A technology readiness perspective.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has been threatening the healthcare system. In this context, telehealth is a potential solution to deliver effective and safe health care to the public. To facilitate the application and acceptance of telehealth, a good understanding of psychological determinants is of great importance. Therefore, this study aims to examine the public's positive and negative mindsets towards telehealth. A theoretical model was established by employing the technology readiness model and perceived value theory. To empirically test the relationships between constructs, a total of 500 responses from residents in Singapore were collected; thereafter, structural equation modeling was performed. The results indicate that discomfort negatively impacts perceived value whereas optimism and innovativeness positively impact users' perceived value. Further, perceived value positively impacts the acceptance of telehealth via attitude. Demographic factors (i.e. internet literacy, age, education) can also influence certain aspects of technology readiness (e.g. innovativeness, optimism). Moreover, social influence is an important moderator between perceived value and the acceptance of telehealth. The empirical findings enhance the understanding of users' psychology concerning telehealth and provide policy recommendations regarding the development of telehealth to improve public health.

Social media engagement in the maritime industry during the pandemic.

The maritime sectors are suffering severe disruptions as a result of COVID-19. Maritime companies have turned to social media to interact with partners and clear up confusion. However, not every social media post receives the same engagement levels especially during a pandemic. For a more holistic analysis of social media engagement during a pandemic, the Protection Motivation Theory and classical theories such as user gratification and media richness theories were included. The research uses hierarchical regression analysis on information gathered from Facebook posts about COVID-19 made by eighteen different companies from four distinct maritime sectors. It was found that the rate of stakeholder engagement is highly influenced by informational, relational, and entertaining content as well as content that fosters self-efficacy, severity, and vulnerability. Additionally, the stakeholder engagement rate is greatly influenced by posts with greater vividness and fluency, which are characterized by providing external links. This is the first study to look into why stakeholders interact with posts linked to COVID-19 on social media. The findings will help maritime organisations use social media as a management and communication instrument.

Willingness to participate in virtual reality technologies: Public adoption and policy perspectives for marine conservation.

Greater efforts are required to educate the public about marine conservation as the marine environment continues to deteriorate over time. A way to remotely travel during the pandemic is provided by virtual reality technologies in marine ecotourism. In order to present a theoretical framework that explains consumers' propensity to participate in virtual reality technology, this study draws on the theories of perceived risk, trust, and attitude. An online survey with 451 respondents was administered in Singapore and structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the data. The results reflect that perceived health risk, perceived financial risk, perceived social risk, and perceived performance risk, mediated by trust and attitude, have a significant influence on consumers' willingness to participate in virtual reality technologies in marine ecotourism. After analyzing their total effects, trust was found to have the highest effect on willingness to participate, followed by attitude, perceived social risk, perceived financial risk, perceived health risk, and perceived performance risk. Overall, the present research offers new perspectives on comprehending the drivers of willingness to participate, as well as implicating policies to raise public awareness of marine conservation, as well as to raise more money to support marine conservation initiatives.

Urban drone adoption: Addressing technological, privacy and task–technology fit concerns

Cutting-edge technologies are changing the operations of urban last-mile delivery. In particular, innovative technologies, such as delivery drones, have shown promising results in commercial applications. When considered alongside the ongoing pandemic, contactless technologies have become even more important to the daily lives of consumers in highly urbanized areas. This study investigates underlying factors influencing consumers' acceptance of drone delivery in urban cities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, a model was created by fusing the technology acceptance model, task–technology fit, and privacy calculus theory. Four hundred and fifty survey responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings suggested that perceived usefulness, attitude, and perceived privacy risks directly influence consumers' behavioral intentions. In addition, perceived ease of use, task characteristics, technology characteristics, task–technology fit, and privacy concerns indirectly impact consumers' behavioral intention. This study offers an insightful perspective on consumers' perception of urban last-mile delivery drones while providing insights into urban transport planning and regulation of drone delivery services.

The determinants of virtual reality adoption for marine conservation

Initiatives for marine conservation are funded by revenue from marine sites. However, the emergence of COVID-19 has restricted travelling, thus leading to decreased revenue and weakening conservation efforts. Virtual reality technology to support marine conservation efforts is explored as it allows users to experience marine sites, without having to be there physically. This study examines factors influencing users' desire to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. With the integration of Stimulus-Organism-Response framework and three behavioural theories (i.e. health belief model, attitude, and eTrust), a hypothetical model was constructed to investigate consumers’ intention to adopt virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism amidst the pandemic. The data were analysed and interpreted using structural equation modelling after 451 survey responses were obtained via an online questionnaire. Outcome expectation, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, self-efficacy, and cues to action exhibit significant positive effects on attitude towards virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. Consequently, attitude has a direct and indirect influence on use intention via eTrust. Post hoc analysis revealed that self-efficacy has a direct impact on eTrust and use intention. Total effect analysis further concluded that attitude has the greatest influence on use intention of virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism. This research contributes to the existing literature by utilizing health belief factors to explain use intention of technology towards marine conservation efforts. Recommendations including policy formulation and marketing initiatives were generated for marine ecotourism operators and policymakers.

Pexidartinib (PLX3397) through restoring hippocampal synaptic plasticity ameliorates social isolation-induced mood disorders.

Social behavior is essential for the well-being and survival of individuals. However, social isolation is a serious public health issue, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting a significant number of people worldwide, and can lead to serious psychological crises. Microglia, innate immune cells in the brain, are strongly implicated in the development of psychiatry. Although many microglial inhibitors have been used to treat depression, there is no literature report on pexidartinib (PLX3397) and social isolation. Herein, we adopted PLX3397 to investigate the role of microglia in the modulation of social isolation. Our results found that social isolation during adolescence caused depressive-like, but not anxiety-like behavior in mice in adulthood, with enhanced expression of the microglial marker Iba1 in the hippocampus. In addition, treatment with PLX3397 reduced the expression of the microglial marker Iba1, decreased the mRNA expression of IL-1ß, increased the mRNA expression of Arg1, elevated the protein levels of DCX and GluR1 and restored the dendritic spine branches and density, ultimately mitigating depressive-like behavior in mice. These findings suggest that inhibition of microglia in the hippocampus could ameliorate mood disorders in mice, providing a new perspective for the treatment of psychiatric disorders such as depression.

Consumer logistics in contemporary shopping: a synthesised review

Contemporary shopping is experiencing rapid changes with the increasing ubiquity of technologies that can be utilised to create seamless omni-channel experiences. These changes have logistics-related implications for end-consumers. Adopting Bowersox (1978)’s [Logistics management. New York: Macmillan] categorisation of logistics activities, this study comprises a synthesised review of scattered consumer logistics literature to bring order and structure to this evolving research field. It is found that an omni-channel shopping environment enables the dynamic transfer of logistics activities between business operators and consumers;However, this interaction does not extend to the post-shopping last-mile context. Instead, last-mile logistics is characterised by a somewhat rigid extension/shift of logistics obligations to/from consumers. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a self-service and technology-dependence trend in consumer logistics, leading to the more active control of logistics activities by consumers. Four propositions along with a unified framework are proposed, based on which a list of future research questions is suggested. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Transport Reviews is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Cross-sectional survey following a longitudinal study on mental health and insomnia of people with sporadic COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: In the post-pandemic era, the emergence of sporadic cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the scale of the pandemic are unpredictable. Therefore, the impact of sporadic cases of COVID-19 and isolation measures on mental health and sleep in different groups of people need to be analyzed. AIM: To clarify the severity of psychological problems and insomnia of staff and community residents around a hospital with sporadic cases of COVID-19, and their relationship with quarantine location and long-term changes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on community residents and medical staff. Many of these medical staff had been subjected to different places of quarantine. Community residents did not experience quarantine. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), acute stress disorder scale (ASDS) and insomnia severity index (ISI) were used to evaluate anxiety and depression, acute stress disorder symptoms, and the severity of insomnia. Additionally, we conducted a 1-year follow-up study on medical staff, with related scales measurement immediately after and one year after the 2-wk quarantine period. RESULTS: We included 406 medical staff and 226 community residents. The total scores of ISI and subscale in HADS of community residents were significantly higher than that of medical staff. Further analysis of medical staff who experienced quarantine showed that 134 were quarantined in hotels, 70 in hospitals and 48 at home. Among all subjects, the proportions of HADS, ASDS and ISI scores above normal cutoff value were 51.94%, 19.17% and 31.11%, respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis found that subjects with higher total ASDS scores had a greater risk to develop anxiety and depression. The total ISI score for medical staff in hotel quarantine was significantly higher than those in home quarantine. Total 199 doctors and nurses who completed the 1-year follow-up study. Compared with baseline, HADS and ASDS scores decreased significantly one year after the end of quarantine, while ISI scores did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: Sporadic COVID-19 cases had a greater psychological impact on residents in surrounding communities, mainly manifested as insomnia and depressive symptoms. Hotel quarantine aggravated the severity of insomnia in medical staff, whose symptoms lasted ≥ 1 year.

Consumer acceptance of autonomous delivery robots for last-mile delivery: Technological and health perspectives

The unprecedented outbreak of the novel coronavirus has led to a great shift toward online retailing and accelerated the need for contactless delivery. This study investigates how technological and health belief factors influence consumer acceptance of autonomous delivery robots (ADRs). Anchored in four behavioral theories [i.e., technology acceptance model, health belief model, perceived value (VAL) theory and trust theory], a synthesized model is developed. A total of 500 valid responses were collected through an online questionnaire in Singapore, and structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the responses. The results revealed that perceived ease of use (EOU), perceived usefulness (UFN), perceived susceptibility (SUS), perceived severity (SEV), self-efficacy (SEL) and cues to action (CUE) have a positive and significant influence on consumers’ perceptions of the value of ADRs. The total effect analysis also showed that perceived VAL strongly affects consumer acceptance of ADRs. Academically, this study introduces both technological and health belief factors to explain consumer acceptance of ADRs. It also provides recommendations for policymakers and autonomous delivery robot developers on policy formulation, public communication, product design and infrastructure development.

Cruise traveling behavior post-COVID-19: An integrated model of health protection motivation, travel constraint and social learning.

Travel restrictions have harmed the cruise industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of this study, which is attributed to permanent changes in the regulatory and social landscape, is to identify and examine the factors influencing post-COVID-19 cruise travel intention. To explain cruise travel intention, we developed a theoretical model incorporating health protection motivation, social learning and travel constraint theories. An online survey was conducted with 400 valid responses collected from Singapore. The theoretical model was estimated using structural equation modeling and the survey data. The findings indicate that (1) observing societal behavior, (2) observing the COVID-19 situation, (3) threat appraisal, and (4) coping appraisal all have a direct influence on travel constraint negotiation. Furthermore, travel constraint negotiation and societal observation have a direct impact on intention. An intriguing finding is that observing the COVID-19 situation has no effect on threat assessment, which can be attributed to pandemic fatigue. The findings allow for a set of recommendations to cruise companies and policymakers for post-COVID-19 cruise industry management.

Key knowledge domains for maritime shipping executives in the digital era: a knowledge-based view approach

With the emergence of disruptive technologies and digital acceleration caused by COVID-19, educating the maritime workforce by equipping them with relevant knowledge is crucial to the industry’s success. Drawing from the knowledge-based view and business logistic management framework, the objective of this study was to construct a framework that identifies and ranks existing and upcoming relevant knowledge domains and their sub-domains for maritime shipping executives. After reviewing the literature, five domains – digitalisation, maritime business, sustainability, personnel development, and supply chain management (SCM) – and 23 sub-knowledge domains were developed. Surveys were conducted with shipping company managers in Singapore and their responses were analysed using the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process methodology. The results revealed that digitalisation knowledge was the most important, followed by maritime business, personnel development, sustainability, and SCM knowledge. Overall, this research has updated the knowledge and competency framework for maritime shipping executives, contributed to research on the interface between technology and knowledge management, and informed education strategies. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Technology Analysis & Strategic Management is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Consumer's adoption of virtual reality technologies for marine conservation: Motivational and technology acceptance perspectives

As the marine ecosystem deteriorates over time, more efforts are made to raise public awareness. Virtual reality technology in marine ecotourism (VRTME) enhances the travel experiences of those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study adopts Maslow's hierarchy of motivational needs and the technology acceptance model to investigate the factors influencing consumers' behavioural intention (BI) towards VRTME and examines their interrelationships. An online survey was conducted with 451 people, and the results were analysed using structural equation modelling. The findings show how motivational constructs, namely, environmental knowledge, biospheric values, risk perception of marine pollution, social susceptibility, and green self-image, as mediated by perceived usefulness (PU), affect the adoption of VRTME. Perceived ease of use (PEOU) further impacted PU. The total effect analysis indicated that PU had the strongest influence, followed by PEOU, social susceptibility, biospheric values, environmental knowledge, green self-image, and risk perception of marine pollution. To substantiate the constructs motivating BI, this study combined two disparate research paradigms centred on the environmental needs and technological characteristics of VRTME. Overall, this study contributes to the existing literature on consumers' adoption of VRTME by introducing new perspectives and recommending policies to raise public awareness and support ongoing conservation efforts.

An investigation of self-service technology usage during the COVID-19 pandemic: The changing perceptions of 'self' and technologies.

Self-service technologies (SSTs) are not new to modern consumers, yet the COVID-19 pandemic brings new motivations into SST usage. This study aims to revisit consumers' SST usage under the pandemic context, focusing on consumers' changing perceptions on social interactions (i.e. the 'self' element) and technologies. The impacts of social distancing, individualistic culture, self-identity as technology users, and innovativeness on consumers' SST usage are explored in the field of smart locker self-collection service. A survey instrument is designed for data collection, and the data are analysed through a hierarchical regression followed by latent class analysis. The findings confirm the contributing effects of the four proposed factors on consumers' SST usage. Further, four distinct SST user segments emerge which are labelled as: technology lovers, social excluders, SST embracers, and indifferent pandemic responders. This study contributes to the SST literature by emphasising the pandemic-induced effects on the consumption environment externally and individuals' self-perceptions internally, both leading to behavioural implications of SST usage.

A synthesised review of pandemic-driven consumer behaviours and applied theories: Towards a unified framework

A massive amount of research has been conducted to examine the pandemic-driven consumer behaviours, yet one may notice the fragmented nature of the research outcomes. This study conducts a synthesised review that aims to (1) identify the principal categories of pandemic-driven consumer behaviours and (2) unveil the key streams of theoretical insights applied to address those behaviours. The review findings reveal six categories of consumer behaviours in response to the pandemic: health-related, abnormal buying, technology-related, information-related, leisure-related and prosocial behaviours. Our review suggests that theories addressing three distinctive human needs (i.e. basic, cognitive psychological and affective psychological needs) are applied to the pandemic context. We proposed a unified framework and five research propositions, capturing the major research trends and future research directions. This study contributes to the literature with a unified theoretical framework by pinpointing specific theories that are mostly relevant in predicting consumer behaviours under the COVID-19 context.

Consumer Motivations for Adopting Omnichannel Retailing: A Safety-Driven Perspective in the Context of COVID-19.

This study aims to understand the influence of COVID-19 on consumers' fears and self-protection motivations. Furthermore, the study seeks to understand the effects of these fears and motivations on consumers' intentions to use omnichannel retailing. A modified theoretical model is proposed by integrating protection motivation theory (PMT) and extending the extended parallel process model (E-EPPM). A total of 398 valid questionnaires are collected and used for further structural equation modeling analysis. The results suggest that the perceived severity, perceived vulnerability, and health anxiety positively impact perceived fears surrounding COVID-19. Furthermore, it is found that perceived fear, self-efficacy, and response efficacy will affect the protection motivation of consumers and ultimately contribute to their behavioral intention to use omnichannel retailing. The findings theoretically enrich the research on COVID-19, PMT, and E-EPPM and empirically provide managerial implications for omnichannel retail service providers.

Social determinants of panic buying behaviour amidst COVID-19 pandemic: The role of perceived scarcity and anticipated regret

Panic buying behaviour is inherently undesirable due to its detrimental impact on community's resources and disruptions to supply chain systems. The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has seen a resurgence of this phenomenon across the world, leaving supermarkets in stockout situations. While panic buying is largely reasoned as a psychological reaction to an extreme event, it is also a socially relevant behaviour as our perception of a crisis can be shaped by our observations and interactions within the society. The social determinants of panic buying behaviour, particularly on how these factors heighten one's perception of scarcity, and trigger panic buying behaviour, are studied. A theoretical model is developed to explain panic buying behaviour in a social context by synthesizing various social and behavioural theories, and the inter-relationship among the latent constructs is analysed using the structural equation modelling approach. Accordingly, an online survey was administered and analysis of the data confirmed that non-coercive social influence, social norm and observational learning directly influence one's perception of scarcity. Additionally, perceived scarcity can motivate panic buying behaviour directly or indirectly through feelings of anticipated regret. This study has contributed to the limited literature on panic buying. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of panic buying will aid policymakers and businesses in developing intervention or support strategies to cope with such behaviour.

Post COVID-19: Health crisis management for the cruise industry.

The cruise industry is gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic due to rising public health concerns. This study combines and examines health crisis management and marketing theories to address public health concerns and improve the usage of cruise services. Combining social exchange theory, customers' perceived value theory, and trust theory, a theoretical model is proposed. Survey data (n = 376) are then collected through an online survey that is conducted on the Chinese tourism market. The finding shows that quality management, health management, social and communication strategies, and financial strategies contribute to customers' perceived value of cruise service. In addition, perceived value directly and indirectly influences customers' intention to use cruise service through trust in cruise company's pandemic management capability. This study expands the current literature on cruise crisis recovery and provides recommendations for policy and strategy formulation for the cruise industry to cope with the pandemic by focusing on public health concerns and psychology.