The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the structural impact of the multidimensional attributes of Virtual YouTubers—who have emerged as pivotal content providers within the entertainment live-streaming ecosystem—on vi...
The primary objective of this study is to comprehensively elucidate the structural impact of the multidimensional attributes of Virtual YouTubers—who have emerged as pivotal content providers within the entertainment live-streaming ecosystem—on viewers' continuance viewing intention. To achieve this, a theoretical model was formulated drawing upon the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework, conceptualizing VTuber characteristics (attractiveness, interactivity, expertise, and technicality) as the external stimuli (S), parasocial interaction and satisfaction as the organismic states (O), and continuance viewing intention as the behavioral response (R). For empirical validation, a cross-sectional online survey was administered to a sample of 430 viewers of entertainment-oriented VTubers in mainland China, with the acquired data subsequently analyzed utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
The hypothesis testing results revealed that the interactivity, expertise, and technicality of VTubers act as core determinants in cultivating parasocial interaction, a key organismic (O) mechanism. Conversely, VTubers' attractiveness, interactivity, and expertise were found to exert a statistically significant positive effect on viewing satisfaction. Furthermore, parasocial interaction demonstrated a positive transfer effect, further enhancing viewing satisfaction; ultimately, both of these organismic mechanisms robustly drove the final behavioral response (R), namely, continuance viewing intention.
Consequently, this study empirically substantiates the presence of differential pathways: whereas the visual attractiveness of a VTuber induces immediate viewing satisfaction, interactivity and technical stability foster parasocial interaction, a sustained psychological bond. The significance of this research lies in its expansion of academic discourse by elucidating the multidimensional psychological dynamics underlying the virtual influencer acceptance process in the emerging digital media landscape, thereby providing actionable insights for strategic formulation within the entertainment industry.