The impact of E-commerce live streamers' professionalism on consumers' purchasing intentions

Abstract

n the digital age, e-commerce livestreamers have notably impacted consumer purchasing behavior. This study investigates how their professionalism affects consumers' purchase intentions, focusing on the mediating role of perceived value and the moderating role of virtual touch. The data were collected from 559 consumers using a questionnaire survey and analyzed with structural equation modeling and multiple linear regression. The findings reveal that e-commerce livestreamers’ professionalism significantly enhances consumers' purchase intentions and perceived value. Perceived value, in turn, positively impacts purchase intentions. Moreover, perceived value mediates the relationship between livestreamers' professionalism and purchase intentions, while virtual touch positively moderates the link between professionalism and perceived value. This study demonstrates that livestreamers’ professionalism directly boosts consumers' purchase intentions and indirectly does so by increasing perceived value. Additionally, virtual touch strengthens the positive effect of livestreamers’ professionalism on perceived value, further encouraging consumer purchasing behavior. This research enriches the theoretical foundation of consumer behavior in e-commerce and offers practical insights for e-commerce platforms and livestreamers