Using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT; Venkatesh et al., 2003), this study aims to investigate the antecedents of Japanese people’s intention to adopt contact-tracing applications (apps) and the moderating effects of self-efficacy and perceived privacy on the relationship between the antecedents and adoption intention.
An online survey was conducted in 2024 with a sample of 400 Japanese residents aged 20–69 who are active internet users. The subjects were recruited from a consumer panel of a marketing research firm’s panel in Tokyo. Using SPSS and PROCESS Macro, multiple linear regressions and moderation analysis were conducted to test eight research hypotheses.
The four proposed antecedents – perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, social influence and trust in government – were significant predictors of contact-tracing app adoption intention. Social influence was the most significant predictor, followed by perceived usefulness of apps, perceived ease of use and trust in government. Next, self-efficacy and perceived privacy significantly moderated the relationship between perceived ease of use and app adoption intention, but not between perceived usefulness and app adoption intention.
This study identified the possibility of social influence as a means of encouraging contact-tracing apps in Japanese society, as well as the need for a more rigorous examination of the influence of privacy and self-efficacy on the process of technology adoption. The knowledge gained from this study is valuable for exploring potential accelerators of new technology adoption during the pandemic.
