IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/jconsa/v60y2026i2ne70057.html

Positive Technology for Consumer Well‐Being: The Role of Blockchain‐Based Digital Product Passports in Mitigating Consumer Stress

Author

Listed:
  • Jisu Jang
  • Jiyun Kang

Abstract

Consumer stress induced by online luxury market has become a threat to consumer well‐being. This research identifies key stress dimensions on online new and second‐hand luxury platforms by applying natural language processing (NLP) to consumer‐generated texts (Study 1). Although blockchain‐based Digital Product Passports (DPPs) are becoming more widely used, it is unclear whether DPPs will mitigate stress or inadvertently exacerbate it through technological complexity. Framing DPPs as a positive technology, this research examines how DPPs could mitigate the qualitatively identified stress dimensions. The research investigates the different impact of DPPs benefits between new and second‐hand platforms via a scenario‐based experiment (Study 2). Immutability reduces stress only on second‐hand platforms. Traceability has universal effects across both types. DPP benefits reduce hesitation and anticipated regret indirectly through stress reduction with platform‐specific patterns. Findings help managers and policymakers identify the specific types of stress and develop targeted DPPs strategies based on platform type.

Suggested Citation

  • Jisu Jang & Jiyun Kang, 2026. "Positive Technology for Consumer Well‐Being: The Role of Blockchain‐Based Digital Product Passports in Mitigating Consumer Stress," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(2), June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:60:y:2026:i:2:n:e70057
    DOI: 10.1111/joca.70057
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/joca.70057
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/joca.70057?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Haj-Salem, Narjes & Chebat, Jean-Charles, 2014. "The double-edged sword: The positive and negative effects of switching costs on customer exit and revenge," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(6), pages 1106-1113.
    2. Li, Yina & Liao, Anni & Li, Lixu & Zhang, Min & Zhao, Xiande & Ye, Fei, 2023. "Reinforcing or weakening? The role of blockchain technology in the link between consumer trust and organic food adoption," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    3. Su, Lishan & Laczniak, Russell N. & Walker, Doug & Raju, Sekar, 2023. "Is strong more vulnerable? An empirical investigation of psychological contract formation, violation, and customer reactions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Hansen, Torben & Møller Jensen, Jan & Stubbe Solgaard, Hans, 2004. "Predicting online grocery buying intention: a comparison of the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 539-550.
    5. Montecchi, Matteo & Plangger, Kirk & Etter, Michael, 2019. "It’s real, trust me! Establishing supply chain provenance using blockchain," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 62(3), pages 283-293.
    6. Ximing Chen & Jie Shang & Muhammad Zada & Shagufta Zada & Xueqiang Ji & Heesup Han & Antonio Ariza-Montes & Jesús Ramírez-Sobrino, 2021. "Health Is Wealth: Study on Consumer Preferences and the Willingness to Pay for Ecological Agricultural Product Traceability Technology: Evidence from Jiangxi Province China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-13, November.
    7. Huang, Guei-Hua & Korfiatis, Nikolaos & Chang, Chun-Tuan, 2018. "Mobile shopping cart abandonment: The roles of conflicts, ambivalence, and hesitation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 165-174.
    8. Hayes, Adam S. & Pellandini-Simányi, Léna, 2025. "The upside of uncertainty: how counterfeit risk in secondary markets influences primary luxury sales," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    9. Greenleaf, Eric A & Lehmann, Donald R, 1995. "Reasons for Substantial Delay in Consumer Decision Making," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 22(2), pages 186-199, September.
    10. Wang, Wangshuai & Ma, Tianjiao & Li, Jie & Zhang, Mo, 2020. "The pauper wears prada? How debt stress promotes luxury consumption," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    11. Rachel Danahy & Cäzilia Loibl & Catherine P. Montalto & Dean Lillard, 2024. "Financial stress among college students: New data about student loan debt, lack of emergency savings, social and personal resources," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(2), pages 692-709, June.
    12. Shih, Eric & Schau, Hope Jensen, 2011. "To Justify or Not to Justify: The Role of Anticipated Regret on Consumers’ Decisions to Upgrade Technological Innovations," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 87(2), pages 242-251.
    13. Kim, Sanghee & Chang, Hyo Jung (Julie), 2023. "Mechanism of retail therapy during stressful life events: The psychological compensation of revenge consumption toward luxury brands," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    14. Hugo Abreu & Vasco Pereira & João Barata, 2025. "Blockchain-based digital product passport: design principles and demonstration," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 63(16), pages 5863-5882, August.
    15. Kristin Stewart & Rebeca Perren & Charles Chambers & Ryley Zulauf, 2024. "In tech we rely: How technology dependence fuels consumer vulnerability," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(4), pages 905-945, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Zongwei Li & Jixiang Liu & Jianing Chen & Yanhui Zhang, 2026. "Why consumers hesitate to pay online: Evidence from online transactions," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 51(1), pages 147-173, February.
    2. Wang, Siqi & Cheah, Jun-Hwa & Lim, Xin-Jean & Leong, Yee Choy & Choo, Wei Chong, 2022. "Thanks COVID-19, I'll reconsider my purchase: Can fear appeal reduce online shopping cart abandonment?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    3. Lu, Jing & Meng, Yucan & Timmermans, Harry & Zhang, Anming, 2021. "Modeling hesitancy in airport choice: A comparison of discrete choice and machine learning methods," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 230-250.
    4. Li, Chenxi & Chen, Jing (Elaine) & Peng, Siyu & Huang, Jinsong & Sha, Xiqing, 2024. "Examining the effects of weather on online shopping cart abandonment: Evidence from an online retailing platform," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    5. Li, Jiarui & Kang, Jiyun, 2025. "Less stress, fewer delays: The role of sophisticated AI in mitigating decision fatigue and purchase postponement in luxury retail," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    6. Sabakun Naher Shetu, 2025. "Determinants of generation Z consumers’ mobile online shopping apps continuance intention to use during COVID-19 and beyond—an empirical study," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    7. Suwelack, Thomas & Hogreve, Jens & Hoyer, Wayne D., 2011. "Understanding Money-Back Guarantees: Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Outcomes," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 87(4), pages 462-478.
    8. Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna & Maciejowska, Katarzyna & Suszczyński, Karol & Sznajd-Weron, Katarzyna & Weron, Rafał, 2014. "Turning green: Agent-based modeling of the adoption of dynamic electricity tariffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 164-174.
    9. Narwal, Preeti & Rai, Shivam, 2022. "Individual differences and moral disengagement in Pay-What-You-Want pricing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 528-547.
    10. Zhang, Jing & Chen, Mingliang & Xie, Zhaohan & Zhuang, Jingyi, 2022. "Don't fall into exquisite poverty: The impact of mismatch between consumers and luxury brands on happiness," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 298-309.
    11. Wei Zheng & Hongliang Qiu & Alastair M. Morrison & Wei Wei & Xihua Zhang, 2022. "Landscape and Unique Fascination: A Dual-Case Study on the Antecedents of Tourist Pro-Environmental Behavioral Intentions," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-20, March.
    12. Teck Ming Tan & Saila Saraniemi, 2023. "Trust in blockchain-enabled exchanges: Future directions in blockchain marketing," Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Springer, vol. 51(4), pages 914-939, July.
    13. Chebat Elise & Roth Yefim & Chebat Jean Charles, 2020. "How Culture Moderates the Effects of Justice in Service Recovery," Review of Marketing Science, De Gruyter, vol. 18(1), pages 21-41, September.
    14. Maria Rodrigues & João F. Proença & Rita Macedo, 2023. "Determinants of the Purchase of Secondhand Products: An Approach by the Theory of Planned Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    15. Gajendra Liyanaarachchi & Giampaolo Viglia & Fidan Kurtaliqi, 2024. "Addressing challenges of digital transformation with modified blockchain," Post-Print hal-04440365, HAL.
    16. Johannes D. Hattula & Walter Herzog & Ravi Dhar, 2023. "The impact of touchscreen devices on consumers’ choice confidence and purchase likelihood," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 34(1), pages 35-53, March.
    17. Tan, Fuqiang & Li, Xi & Agarwal, Reeti & Joshi, Yatish & Yaqub, Muhammad Zafar, 2024. "Does multilingual packaging influence purchasing in retail segment? Evidence from multiple experiments," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    18. Wang, Siqi & Lim, Xin-Jean & Luo, Xi & Cheah, Jun-Hwa, 2024. "To hesitate or not to hesitate: Can popularity cues minimize the hesitation to checkout in e-commerce?," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    19. Li, Jianbin & Liu, Lang & Luo, Xiaomeng & Zhu, Stuart X., 2023. "Interactive bundle pricing strategy for online pharmacies," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    20. Tung-Lai Hu & Chuang-Min Chao & Wen-Kai Hsieh & Chia-Hung Lin, 2025. "The Impact Mechanism of Video Maturity and Content Empowerment on Purchase Intentions: A Case Study of Agricultural Tourism in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-26, April.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:jconsa:v:60:y:2026:i:2:n:e70057. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=0022-0078 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.