Journals / Fiscaoeconomia / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 1

The Effect of Sense of Belonging to an Influencer’s Account on Purchase Intention: The Mediating Roles of Well-Being and Problematic Engagement

Bir Etkileyici Hesabına Ait Olma Duygusunun Satın Alma Niyeti Üzerindeki Etkisi: İyi Oluş ve Sorunlu Etkileşimin Aracı Rolleri

Vesile Özçifçi(AKSARAY ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-8011-9137
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-03-20
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

In conclusion, the study highlights belonging as a central psychological mechanism in influencer marketing and suggests that fundamental psychological processes can operate largely independently of follower interaction frequency.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study examines the impact of followers' sense of belonging to a social media influencer’s account on purchase intention through hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being, and problematic engagement.
📊
Key Findings & Data:In addition, the study tests whether the frequency of interaction with the influencer moderates these mediating relationships.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:In conclusion, the study highlights belonging as a central psychological mechanism in influencer marketing and suggests that fundamental psychological processes can operate largely independently of follower interaction frequency.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Sense of Belonging · Hedonic Well-Being · Eudaimonic Well-Being

Abstract

This study examines the impact of followers' sense of belonging to a social media influencer’s account on purchase intention through hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being, and problematic engagement. In addition, the study tests whether the frequency of interaction with the influencer moderates these mediating relationships. Survey data were collected from 409 active social media users who follow influencers across multiple platforms. Hypotheses were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and the Hayes PROCESS Macro (Model 4 and Model 7). The findings show that the sense of belonging has a significant direct effect on purchase intention and significant indirect effects through hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being, and problematic engagement. However, the frequency of interaction with the influencer does not significantly affect either the direct effects or the conditional indirect effects. In conclusion, the study highlights belonging as a central psychological mechanism in influencer marketing and suggests that fundamental psychological processes can operate largely independently of follower interaction frequency. Furthermore, by addressing both hedonic and eudaimonic well-being dimensions together, it fills an important gap that has been limited in the literature. Additionally, including problematic engagement in the model provides an empirical response to the increasingly emphasized “dark side” discussions in influencer research.

Özet

Bu çalışma, takipçilerin bir sosyal medya etkileyici hesabına olan aidiyet duygusunun, hedonik iyi oluş, eudaimonik iyi oluş ve sorunlu etkileşim aracılığıyla satın alma niyeti üzerindeki etkisini incelemektedir. Ek olarak çalışma, etkileyiciyle etkileşim sıklığının bu aracı ilişkileri düzenleyip düzenlemediğini test etmektedir. Anket verileri, birden fazla platformda etkileyicileri takip eden 409 aktif sosyal medya kullanıcısından toplanmıştır. Hipotezler, Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli ve Hayes PROCESS Makro (Model 4 ve Model 7) kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, ait olma duygusunun satın alma niyeti üzerinde anlamlı bir doğrudan etkisi olduğunu ve hedonik iyi oluş, eudaimonik iyi oluş ve sorunlu etkileşim yoluyla anlamlı dolaylı etkileri olduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte, etkileyiciyle etkileşim sıklığının ne doğrudan etkiler ne de koşullu dolaylı etkiler üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamaktadır. Sonuç olarak, çalışma aidiyet duygusunu etkileyici pazarlamasında merkezi bir psikolojik mekanizma olarak vurgulamakta ve temel psikolojik süreçlerin takipçi etkileşim sıklığından büyük ölçüde bağımsız olarak işleyebileceğini öne sürmektedir. Ayrıca hem hedonik hem de eudaimonik iyi oluş boyutlarını birlikte ele alarak, literatürdeki önemli bir boşluğu doldurmaktadır. Bunun yanı sıra, modele sorunlu etkileşimi dahil ederek, etkileyici araştırmalarında giderek daha fazla vurgulanan "karanlık taraf" tartışmalarına ampirik bir katkı sunmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Özçifçi, V. (2026). The Effect of Sense of Belonging to an Influencer’s Account on Purchase Intention: The Mediating Roles of Well-Being and Problematic Engagement. Fiscaoeconomia, Volume: 10 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1842146

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (75)

  1. Alim, Md. A., Thaichon, P., Quach, S., & Weaven, S. (2025). Influencer–follower interactions and consumers' behavioral responses: A multi-method approach and future research agenda. Journal of Consumer Behaviour,1–38. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.70056
  2. Alphenaar, L. E., Shiner, R. L., Arana, C. C., & Prinzie, P. (2025). Social media and subjective well-being: The moderating role of personality traits. Journal of Happiness Studies, 26(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-025-00898-0
  3. Altuwairiqi M., Jiang N., & Ali, R. (2019). Problematic attachment to social media: Five behavioural archetypes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,16(12), 1-36. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122136
  4. Anwar, S., Tanveer, F., & Zubair, A. (2025). Escapism and belonging: How fun-based influencer interactions boost happiness on social media. The Critical Review of Social Sciences Studies, 3(2), 335-345. https://thecrsss.com/index.php/Journal/about
  5. Audria, U., Susan, M., & Gomulia, B. (2023). Fanning the flames of brand love: The impact of the fan page and the mediating role of sense of Brand Community. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research (JEECAR), 10(5), 727–740. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v10i5.1206
  6. Bozkurt, S. (2023). Process makro ile aracılık, düzenleyicilik ve durumsal aracılık etki analizleri (1. Basım). Ekin Yayınları.
  7. Casaló, L. V., Flavián, C., & Ibáñez-Sánchez, S. (2020). Influencers on Instagram: Antecedents and consequences of opinion leadership. Journal of Business Research, 117, 510-519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.07.005
  8. Chen, C., Teng, Z., Lu, C., Hossain, Md. A., & Fang, Y. (2021). Rethinking leisure tourism: From the perspective of tourist touch points and perceived well-being. SAGE Open, 11 (4), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211059180
  9. Cheung, C. M., Lee, M. K., & Rabjohn, N. (2008). The impact of electronic word-of-mouth: the adoption of online opinions in online customer communities. Internet Research, 18(3), 229-247. https://doi.org/10.1108/10662240810883290
  10. Choubey, T. (2025). The rise of influencer culture and its psychological, social, and behavioral impact on youth. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 6(4), 4002-4007. https://doi.org/10.55248/gengpi.6.0425.1456
  11. Claeys, P., Charry, K., & Tessitore, T. (2023). To be real or not to be real? The effect of genuine (vs. Nongenuine) depictions of social media influencers on followers’ well‐being and brand purchase intention. Psychology & Marketing, 41(1), 203–222. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21920
  12. Coyle, J. R., & Thorson, E. (2001). The effects of progressive levels of interactivity and vividness in Web marketing sites. Journal of Advertising, 30(3), 65–77. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2001.10673646
  13. Dodds, S., Jaud, D. A., & Melnyk, V. (2021). Enhancing consumer well-being and behavior with spiritual and fantasy advertising. Journal of Advertising, 50(4), 354–371. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2021.1939203
  14. Durmuş Şenyapar, H. N. (2024). A comprehensive analysis of influencer types in digital marketing. International Journal of Management and Administration, 8(15),75-100. https://doi.org/10.29064/ijma.1417291
  15. Erkan, I. & Evans, C. (2016). The influence of eWOM in social media on consumers’ purchase intentions: An extended approach to information adoption. Computers in Human Behavior, 61, 47–55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2016.03.003
  16. Farivar, S., & Wang, F. (2022). Effective influencer marketing: A social identity perspective. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 67, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103026
  17. Farivar, S., Wang, F., & Turel, O. (2022). Followers’ problematic engagement with influencers on social media: An attachment theory perspective. Computers in Human Behavior, 133, 107288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107288
  18. Fastame, M. C., Ruiu, M., & Mulas, I. (2022). Hedonic and eudaimonic well being in late adulthood: Lessons from sardinia’s blue zone. Journal of Happiness Studies, 23, 713–726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-021-00420-2
  19. Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39–50. https://doi.org/10.2307/3151312
  20. Frost, R. L., & Rickwood, D. J. (2017). A systematic review of the mental health outcomes associated with Facebook use. Computers in Human Behavior, 76, 576–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2017.08.001
  21. Gori, A., Topino, E., & Griffiths, M. D. (2023). The associations between attachment, self-esteem, fear of missing out, daily time expenditure, and problematic social media use: A path analysis model. Addictive Behaviors, 141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107633
  22. Guzzo, R. F., Wang, X., & Abbott, J. (2022). Corporate social responsibility and individual outcomes: The mediating role of gratitude and compassion at work. Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 63(3), 350–368. https://doi.org/10.1177/1938965520981069
  23. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (Second Edition). Sage Publications.
  24. Harwood, J. (2020). Social identity theory. J. van den Bulck (Ed.), International encyclopedia of media psychology. Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119011071.iemp0153
  25. Hawk, S. T., van den Eijnden, R. J. J. M., van Lissa, C. J., & ter Bogt, T. F. M. (2019). Narcissistic adolescents' attention-seeking following social rejection: Links with social media disclosure, problematic social media use, and smartphone stress. Computers in Human Behavior, 92, 65–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2018.10.032
  26. Hayes, A. F. (2022). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A Regression-Based Approach (Third Edition). New York: The Guilford Press.
  27. Högberg, J., Ramberg, M.O., Gustafsson, A., & Wastlund, E. (2019). Creating brand engagement through in-store gamified customer experiences. Journal of Retailing and Consumers Services, 50, 122–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.05.006
  28. Hu, H., Zhang, D., & Wang, C. (2019). Impact of social media influencers' endorsement on application adoption: A trust transfer perspective. Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 47(11), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.8518
  29. Huang, C. (2021). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 24(1), 41–46. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2016.0758
  30. Hussain, Z., & Griffiths, M. D. (2021). The associations between problematic social networking site use and sleep quality, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, depression, anxiety and stress. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 19(3), 686–700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-019-00175-1
  31. Huta, V., & Waterman, A. S. (2014). Eudaimonia and its distinction from hedonia: Developing a classification and terminology for understanding conceptual and operational definitions. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15, 1425-1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-013-9485-0
  32. Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2025. Influencer Marketing Hub. (2025, April 25). https://influencermarketinghub.com/influencer-marketing-benchmark-report/
  33. Iyer, R., & Muncy, J. A. (2016). Attitude toward consumption and subjective well-being. Journal of Consumers Affairs, 50(1), 48–67. https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.12079
  34. Jain, R., Schuster, L., Luck, E., & Jin, H. S. (2024). Influencer marketing, narrative transportation, and consumer well‐being: An exploration of how virtual influencers impact followers' well‐being. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 48(6), e13105. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.13105
  35. Jamil, R. A., & Qayyum, A. (2021). Word of mouse vs word of influencer? An experimental investigation into the consumers’ preferred source of online information. Management Research Review, 45(2), 173–197. https://doi.org/10.1108/mrr-03-2021-0184
  36. Jamil, R. A., Qayyum, U., Hassan, S. R., & Khan, T. I. (2024). Impact of social media influencers on consumers’ well-being and purchase intention: a TikTok perspective. European Journal of Management and Business Economics, 33(3), 366-385. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJMBE-08-2022-0270
  37. Jian, Y., Zhou, Z., & Zhou, N. (2019). Brand cultural symbolism, brand authenticity, and consumer well-being: The moderating role of cultural involvement. Journal of Product and Brand Management, 28(4), 529–539. https://doi.org/10.1108/jpbm-08-2018-1981
  38. Ki, C. W. C., Cuevas, L. M., Chong, S. M., & Lim, H. (2020). Influencer marketing: Social media influencers as human brands attaching to followers and yielding positive marketing results by fulfilling needs. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102133
  39. Kim, H. Y., & Lee, Y. (2020). The effect of online customization on consumers’ happiness and purchase intention and the mediating roles of autonomy, competence, and pride of authorship. International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, 36(5), 403–413. https://doi.org/ 10.1080/10447318.2019.1658375
  40. Kim, M., & Kim, J. (2020). How does a celebrity make fans happy? Interaction between celebrities and fans in the social media context. Computers in Human Behavior, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106419
  41. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Review, 14, 311. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14030311
  42. Levy, D., & Friedman, Y. (2019). Postforced eviction communities: The contribution of personal and environmental resources to the sense of belonging to the community. Journal of Community Psychology, 47(1), 104-116. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.22103
  43. Liu, C-T., & Guo, Y. M. (2015). The role of sense of belonging in social media usage: A tale of two types of users. Asia Pacific Journal of Information Systems, 25(2), 211-233. http://dx.doi.org/10.14329/apjis.2015.25.2.403
  44. Liu, J., & Lee, J-S. (2024). Social media influencers and followers’ loneliness: the mediating roles of parasocial relationship, sense of belonging, and social support. Online Media and Global Communication, 3(4), 607–630 https://doi.org/10.1515/omgc-2024-0025
  45. Lou, C., & Yuan, S. (2019). Influencer marketing: How message value and credibility affect consumer trust of branded content on social media. Journal of Interactive Advertising, 19(1), 58-73. https://doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2018.1533501
  46. Lu, H-H., & Chen, C-F. (2023). How do influencers’ characteristics affect followers’ stickiness and well-being in the social media context?. Journal of Services Marketing, 37(8), 1046–1058. https://doi.org/10.1108/jsm-11-2022-0363
  47. Mansoor, M., & Paul, J. (2022). Consumers’ choice behavior: An interactive effect of expected eudaimonic well-being and green altruism. Business Strategy and Environment, 31(1), 94–109. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2876
  48. Mauliza, F., & Fadhilla, H. N. (2025). The influence of social media marketing on purchase intention. Research Horizon, 5(3), 675–690. https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.5.3.2025.560
  49. Mclean, G., Krey, N., & Barhorst, J. B. (2024). Revealing the double‐edged sword: Introducing the technology and consumer well‐being paradox model. Psychology & Marketing, 42, 5-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.22110
  50. Meier, A., & Reinecke, L. (2023). Social media and mental health: Reviewing effects on eudaimonic well-being. R. L. Nabi & J. Gall Myrick (Eds.), Emotions in the digital world: Exploring affective experience and expression in online interactions (215–234). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780197520536.003.0012
  51. Nazlıgül, M. D., Koçyiğit, Ö., & Merdan Yıldız, E. D. (2022). Problematic social media use for mood modification: Its associations with shame, guilt, anger, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Addicta: The Turkish Journal on Addictions, 9(1), 84-93.
  52. Palazon, M., Delgado-Ballester, E., & Sicilia, M. (2018). Fostering Brand Love in Facebook brand pages. Online Information Review, 43(5), 710–727. https://doi.org/10.1108/oir-05-2017-0175
  53. Pan, M., Blut, M., Ghiassaleh, A., & Lee, Z. W. Y. (2025). Influencer marketing effectiveness: A meta-analytic review. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 53, 52–78. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-024-01052-7
  54. Pang, H. (2020). Examining associations between university students’ mobile social media use, online self-presentation, social support and sense of belonging. Aslib Journal of Information Management, 72(3), 321-338 https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-08-2019-0202
  55. Peng, X., Yan, D., Yuan, X., & Zhou, C. L. (2021). The influence of social media on Depression. Proceedings of the 2021 4th International Conference on Humanities Education and Social Sciences (ICHESS 2021). https://doi.org/10.2991/assehr.k.211220.055
  56. Prahinski, C. & Fan, Y. (2007), Supplier evaluations: The role of communication quality. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 43: 16-28. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-493X.2007.00032.x
  57. Qayyum, A., Jamil, R. A., Shah, A. M., & Lee, K. Y. (2023). Inclusive advertising featuring disability on instagram: Effect on consumer well-being, brand engagement, and purchase intention. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103515
  58. Rahmani, K., Gnoth, J., & Mather, K. (2018). Hedonic and eudaimonic well-being: A psycholinguistic view. Tourism Management, 69, 155–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.06.008
  59. Rao, P., & Holt, D. (2005). Do green supply chains lead to competitiveness and economic performance? International Journal of Operations & Production Management, 25(9), 898–916. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443570510613956
  60. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141-166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141
  61. Sarabia-Sánchez, F. J., Küster Boluda, I., Vila-Lopez, N., & Sarabia-Andreu, F. (2024). Belonging and beliefs: How social influences drive the intention to purchase foods with health claims. European Journal of Management and Business Economics. https://doi.org/10.1108/ejmbe-06-2024-0192
  62. Sarıkaya, B. F. (2023). Z-Kuşağı influencer olmak istiyor mu? Türk ve Alman gençleri üzerine bir çalışma (1. Basım). Eğitim Yayınevi.
  63. Sirgy, M. J. (2021). Macromarketing metrics of consumer well-being: An update. Journal of Macromarketing, 41(1), 124-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/02761467209680
  64. Straume, L. V., & Vittersø, J. (2012). Happiness, inspiration and the fully functioning person: Separating hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in the workplace. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(5), 387–398. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.711348
  65. Su, L., Tang, B., & Nawijn, J. (2020). Eudaimonic and hedonic well-being pattern changes: Intensity and activity. Annals of Tourism Research, 84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.103008
  66. Tafesse, W., & Wood, B. P. (2021). Followers’ engagement with Instagram ınfluencers: The role of ınfluencers’ content and engagement strategy. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102303
  67. Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979). An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The social psychology of intergroup relations (33–47). Brooks/Cole.
  68. Turel, O., & Qahri-Saremi H. (2016). Problematic use of social networking sites: Antecedents and consequence from a dual-system theory perspective. Journal of Management Information Systems, 33(4), 1087-1116 https://doi.org/ 10.1080/07421222.2016.1267529
  69. Valkenburg, P. M., Meier, A., & Beyens, I. (2022). Social media use and its impact on adolescent mental health: An umbrella review of the evidence. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.017
  70. Vargas-Bianchi, L. (2022). Pursuing belonging through consumption: refining the belonging process framework. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 25(4), 469-491 https://doi.org/10.1108/QMR-11-2021-0134
  71. Xie, L., Li, D., & Keh, H. T. (2020). Customer participation and well-being: The roles of service experience, customer empowerment and social support. Journal of Service Theory and Practice, 30(6), 557-584. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTP-11-2019-0228
  72. Yuan, L. (Ivy), & Dennis, A. R. (2019). Acting like humans? Anthropomorphism and consumer’s willingness to pay in electronic commerce. Journal of Management Information Systems, 36(2), 450–477. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421222.2019.1598691
  73. Zhang, Q., Vonderembse, M. A., & Lim, J. (2006). Spanning flexibility: Supply chain information dissemination drives strategy development and customer satisfaction. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 11(5), 390–399. https://doi.org/10.1108/13598540610682408
  74. Zhao, L., Lu, Y., Wang, B., Chau, P. Y. K., & Zhang, L. (2012). Cultivating the sense of belonging and motivating user participation in virtual communities: A social capital perspective. International Journal of Information Management, 32(6), 574–588. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2012.02.006
  75. Zheng, H., Han, F., Huang, Y., Wu, Y., & Wu. X. (2025). Factors influencing behavioral intention to use e-learning in higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A meta-analytic review based on the UTAUT2 model. Education and Information Technologies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-13299-2