Who Clicks on Online Donation? Understanding the Characteristics of SNS Users during Participation in Online Campaigns

Eun Young Park and Jin Hwa Rhee
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Eun Young Park: Institute for Business Research & Education, Korea University, 145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jin Hwa Rhee: Department of Business Administration, College of Economics and Business Administration, Daegu University, 201, Daegudae-ro, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do 38453, Korea

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 13, 1-15

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to explore the characteristics of SNS (Social Network Service) users as potential donors for the sustainability of online donation campaigns. For this purpose, we examined the relationship between SNS users’ characteristics, social interaction and donation intention. Based on self-construal level theory, we assume that SNS users’ characteristics (independent-self and interdependent-self) affect their social interaction and in turn their online donation behaviors. Specifically, we suggest that people with an interdependent disposition tend to have more social interaction, which in turn has a positive effect on participation in donation through the mediation of empathy for the beneficiaries of the donation described in the advertisement. In order to verify the hypotheses, we use structural equation modeling to analyze data collected from 116 participants through online surveys. The findings of this study are as follows. First, individuals with an interdependent disposition have more online social interaction, whereas an independent disposition does not have a significant effect on social interaction online. Second, SNS users’ social interaction has a positive effect on empathy for the beneficiaries of donation. Third, empathy for beneficiaries has a positive effect on participation in online donations. These findings confirm the psychological mechanism between online social interaction and donation behavior and contribute useful guidance for non-profit organizations that design and implement online donation campaigns.

Keywords: self-construal level theory; social interaction; empathy; online donation campaigns (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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