* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: q_alhammouri@asu.edu.jo (Q. Hammouri)
© 2021 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada.
doi: 10.5267/j.ijdns.2021.7.014
International Journal of Data and Network Science 5 (2021) 667–680
Contents lists available at GrowingScience
International Journal of Data and Network Science
homepage: www.GrowingScience.com/ijds
Determinants of the continuous use of mobile apps: The mediating role of users
awareness and the moderating role of customer focus
Qais Hammouri
a*
, Jassim Ahmad Al-Gasawneh
a
, Emad Ahmad Abu-Shanab
b
, Nawras M. Nu-
sairat
a
and Hakim Akhorshaideh
c
a
Applied Science Private University, Jordan
b
Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
c
University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
C H R O N I C L E A B S T R A C T
Article history:
Received: March 10, 2021
Received in revised format: June
22, 2021
Accepted: July 25, 2021
Available online: July 25, 2021
This research empirically explored the factors influencing the continuous use of mobile Apps in
Jordan. The research utilized the Theory of Planned Behavior, the Diffusion of Innovation Theory
and the Social Cognitive Theory to build the conceptual foundation of the research model. Using
a quantitative approach, the study utilized a questionnaire with a set of well-validated items for
the purpose of collecting data. The study collected 524 usable surveys, and analyzed the data using
structural equation modeling technique (PLS-SEM). Results indicated that the three constructs
relevant to this study (perceived risk, mobile self-efficacy, and social influence) were significant
in predicting a users' awareness and the continuous use of mobile Apps. Customer focus moder-
ated the relationship between awareness and continuous intention. In addition, the findings also
confirm that users’ awareness mediated the relationship between the three independent variables
and the continuous use. The Detailed findings of this research are discussed, with conclusions and
future research reported at the end.
© 2021 by the authors; licensee Growing Science, Canada.
Keywords:
Mobile Apps
Awareness
Continuous Use
Perceived Risk
Self-Efficacy
Social Influence
Customer Focus
1. Introduction
The quick surge in the number of smartphone users has dramatically influenced the expansion of mobile Apps usage. Mobile
Apps are a vital part of our daily life, having facilitated daily human activities and meeting different needs in different areas.
Globally, mobile Apps technology has become the dominant trend amongst mobile users in all fields. Such dominance comes
due to the availability of Internet infrastructures and fierce competition among service providers, in addition to their role in
meeting users' needs in a customized manner. Jordan is one of the developing countries that represents an example for a
vastly growing community in the use of smartphones. Jordan’s Telecom Regulatory Commission reported that in 2021,
among the 10 million citizens of Jordan, eight million citizens are mobile users (Digital, 2021). Moreover, according to Sta-
tista.com, the use of mobile Apps amongst Jordanian citizens estimated 7.8 million Jordanian users in 2021 and it is expected
to reach 8.3 million Jordanian users in 2025 (Statista.com, 2021a). Additionally, in the first quarter of 2021, the number of
available Apps in Google Play Store reached 3.5 million applications, while the number of Apps in Apple Store included 2.22
million Apps (Statista.com, 2021b). Most mobile users have almost 20 Apps installed on their phones (Statista.com, 2021c).
Furthermore, mobile users installed more than 200 billion Apps in 2020 (Mindsea.com, 2021). Even though the number of
mobile Apps installed is huge, only 24% of such Apps are used only once and then instantly uninstalled (Clevertap.com,