Effects of customer-to-customer social interactions in virtual travel communities on brand attachment: The mediating role of social well-being

This study investigates a multiple mediation model, in which the effects of social interaction among members of virtual travel communities operated by online travel agency brands on brand attachment are mediated by five dimensions of social well-being. Data were collected from 375 customers of virtual travel communities who had interacted with other customers in those communities online. Findings suggest that (1) the positive effects of online customer-to-customer social interaction (CCSI) on brand attachment are mediated by five social well-being dimensions, (2) CCSI is positively related to five social well-being dimensions and brand attachment, and (3) five social well-being dimensions have significant influences on brand attachment. This study provides empirical evidence of how online CCSI in virtual travel communities can improve customers’ social well-being and brand attachment. •The mediating role of social well-being on the relationship between customer-to-customer social interaction (CCSI) and attachment to virtual travel communities is explored.•The overall indirect effect of CCSI on brand attachment is transmitted by social well-being factors.•The specific indirect effects of CCSI on brand attachment are transmitted by five social well-being factors, respectively.