Do family factors affect the usage intention of smart homes? A PLS-SEM empirical study from China

PurposeDespite the enormous benefits, smart homes (SHs) are still not widely adopted by residents in China. Furthermore, research on the intention to use SHs has overlooked the role of family factors. Thus, this study aims to propose a new research model to examine the impact of family factors on the usage intention (UI) of SHs.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 265 valid data from potential users of SHs in China using a convenience sampling method. The PLS-SEM method was applied to test the research model and related hypotheses.FindingsThe empirical results confirm the mediating role of optimism (OP) in perceived family support (PFS)/perceived family trust (PFT) and attitude (AT). Unsurprisingly, the results validated the relationship between perceived usefulness (PU), attitude (AT) and UI of SHs through TAM theory. Besides, this study also identified the moderating effect of perceived risk (PR) between AT and UI.Practical implicationsTo improve SH adoption, practitioners should focus on family factors and utilize family influence to promote the spread of smart home reputation. Besides, SH practitioners should enhance user trust and reduce perceived risks through technological upgrades and security measures.Originality/valueBased on the Social Impact Theory and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study is an empirical attempt to explore the impact of family factors on the intention to use SHs, expanding the research on smart home adoption.