The purpose of this study is to investigate the diffusion of negative opinions over the Internet in relation to specific personality antecedents (i.e. Altruism, Need for uniqueness, Self-confidence) and communication outcomes (i.e. Overall satisfaction, E-complaint-propensity).
Based on an online survey consisting of 2,393 e-consumers aged 50+, the present research methodology uses Structural Equation Modelling to verify the proposed conceptual relationships. Findings confirm the positive influence of online opinion-leaders on the propensity to spread negative e-WOM and demonstrate the importance of personality characteristics as means to influence negative online opinion-diffusion. Importantly, negative e-WOM was further found to reduce consumers' overall satisfaction and to possibly occur in addition to direct e-complaining. This research therefore is the first to empirically establish the concept of negative Opinion-leadership in an online context and in relation to e-consumers above 50, in addition to proposing a novel, personality-based model of negative online opinion diffusion.
For marketing practitioners, this study emphasises the importance of negative online opinion-leaders as a target group that requires distinct communication strategies. Marketing and complaint mangers are recommended to appeal to specific personality traits in order to prevent negative online opinion-cascades and possibly encourage direct complaints
