• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.69-90
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• 2005

Online community as a business model has gotten much attention in online market. And it has been recognized as an increasingly important tool for better understanding and relationships with customers. Thus, There are needs for conducting researches, such as those being performed in social psychology area. Due to the lack of current researches on online community, variables that have been considered in social science and factors in relationship marketing are adopted in this study. The primary purpose of this research is to develop and test a model that explains the process of how sense of online community through relationship quality influences customer loyalty. The major findings of this study are as follows: First, sense of online community was found to have a positive influence on relationship quality. Second, relationship quality was found to have a strong positive effect on customer loyalty. Finally, relationship quality was found to have a mediation effect between the sense of online community and the customer loyalty. Implications of these findings are discussed for researchers and practitioners.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2019

Purpose: This study tries to test mediating effects of hope and therapeutic relationship in the relation between general social functions and mental health recovery of community people with mental illness. Methods: This study was carried out in a cross-sectional research design. The participants included 217 people with mental illnesses who were enrolled at eight Mental Health Welfare Centers in the Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected from February to May, 2018. The collected data were analyzed using a regression analysis, and SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the mediating effects. Results: This study analyzed the direct effects of general social functions on the hope, therapeutic relationship and mental health recovery. And general social functions had indirect effects on their mental health recovery via hope and therapeutic relationship. Both hope and therapeutic relationship had dual mediating effects in the influence of general social functions on mental health recovery. Conclusion: The role of hope and therapeutic relationship in the mental health recovery of community people with mental illness is important, and it is confirmed that hope is a powerful factor influencing mental health recovery.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.51-89
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• 2007

INTRODUCTION Due to the high broadband internet penetration rate and its group-oriented culture, various types of online communities operate in Korea. This study use 'Uses and Gratification Approach, and argue that members' usage-needs satisfaction with brand community is an important factor for promoting community commitment. Based on previous studies identifying the effect of brand image on consumers' responses to various marketing stimuli, this study hypothesizes that brand image can be a moderate variable affecting the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction with brand community and members' commitment to brand community. This study analyzes the influence of usage-needs satisfaction on brand community commitment and how apparel brand image affects the relationships between usage-needs satisfactions and community commitments. The hypotheses of this study are proposed as follows. H1-3: The usage-needs satisfaction of apparel brand community (interest, transaction, relationship needs) influences emotional (H1), continuous (H2), and normative (H3) commitments to apparel brand communities. H4-6: Apparel brand image has a moderating effect on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and emotional (H4), continuous (H5), and normative (H6) commitments to apparel brand communities. METHODS Brand communities founded by non-company affiliates were excluded and emphasis was placed instead on communities created by apparel brand companies. Among casual apparel brands registered in 6 Korean portal sites in August 2003, a total of 9 casual apparel brand online communities were chosen, depending on the level of community activity and apparel brand image. Data from 317 community members were analyzed by exploratory factor analysis, moderated regression analysis, ANOVA, and scheffe test. Among 317 respondents answered an online html-type questionnaire, 80.5% were between 16 to 25 years old. There were a total of 150 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=3) recording higher-than-average brand image scores (Mean > 3.75) and a total of 162 respondents from apparel brand communities(n=6) recording lower-than-average brand image scores(Mean < 3.75). In this study, brand community commitment was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: emotional, continuous and normative commitment. The degree of usage-needs satisfaction (interest, transaction, relationship needs) was measured on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of brand image was measured by a 5-point Likert scale: strength, favorability, and uniqueness of brand associations. RESULTS In the results of exploratory factor analysis, the three usage-needs satisfactions with brand community were classified as interest, transaction, and relationship needs. Brand community commitment was also divided into the multi-dimensional factors: emotional, continuous, and normative commitments. The regression analysis (using a stepwise method) was used to test the influence of 3 independent variables (interest-needs satisfaction, transaction-needs, and relationship-needs satisfactions) on the 3 dependent variables (emotional, continuous and normative commitments). The three types of usage-needs satisfactions are positively associated with the three types of commitments to apparel brand communities. Therefore, hypothesis 1, 2, and 3 were significantly supported. Moderating effects of apparel brand image on the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and brand community commitments were tested by moderated regression analysis. The statistics result showed that the influence of transaction-needs on emotional commitment was significantly moderated by apparel brand image. In addition, apparel brand image had moderating effects on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and emotional, continuous and normative commitments to apparel brand communities. However, there were not significant moderate effects of apparel brand image on the relationships between interest-needs satisfaction and 3 types of commitments (emotional, continuous and normative commitments) to apparel brand communities. In addition, the influences of transaction-needs satisfaction on 2 types of commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were not significantly moderated by apparel brand image. Therefore, hypothesis 4, 5 and 6 were partially supported. To explain the moderating effects of apparel brand image, four cross-tabulated groups were made by averages of usage-needs satisfaction (interest-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.09, transaction-needs satisfaction avg. M=3.46, relationship-needs satisfaction M=1.62) and the average apparel brand image (M=3.75). The average scores of commitments in each classified group are presented in Tables and Figures. There were significant differences among four groups. As can be seen from the results of scheffe test on the tables, emotional commitment in community group with high brand image was higher than one in community group with low brand image when transaction-needs satisfaction was high. However, when transaction-needs satisfaction was low, there was not any difference between the community group with high brand image and community group with low brand image regarding emotional commitment to apparel brand communities. It means that emotional commitment didn't increase significantly without high satisfaction of transaction-needs, despite the high apparel brand image. In addition, when apparel brand image was low, increase in transaction-needs did not lead to the increase in emotional commitment. Therefore, the significant relationship between transaction-needs satisfaction and emotional commitment was found in only brand communities with high apparel brand image, and the moderating effect of apparel brand image on this relationship between two variables was found in the communities with high satisfaction of transaction-needs only. Statistics results showed that the level of emotional commitment is related to the satisfaction level of transaction-needs, while overall response is related to the level of apparel brand image. We also found that the role of apparel brand image as a moderating factor was limited by the level of transaction-needs satisfaction. In addition, relationship-needs satisfaction brought significant increase in emotional commitment in both community groups (high and low levels of brand image), and the effect of apparel brand image on emotional commitment was significant in both community groups (high and low levels of relationship-needs satisfaction). Especially, the effect of brand image was greater when the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was high. in contrast, increase in emotional commitment responding to increase in relationship-needs satisfaction was greater when apparel brand image is high. The significant influences of relationship-needs satisfaction on community commitments (continuous and normative commitments) were found regardless of apparel brand image(in both community groups with low and high brand image). However, the effects of apparel brand image on continuous and normative commitments were found in only community group with high satisfaction level of relationship-needs. In the case of communities with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, apparel brand image marginally increases continuous and normative commitments. Therefore, we could not find the moderating effect of apparel brand image on the relationship between relationship-needs satisfaction and continuous and normative commitments in community groups with low satisfaction levels of relationship needs, CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS From the results of this study, we draw several conclusions; First, the increases in usage-needs satisfactions through apparel brand communities result in the increases in commitments to apparel brand communities, wheres the degrees of such relationship depends on the level of apparel brand image. That is, apparel brand image is a moderating factor strengthening the relationship between usage-needs satisfaction and commitment to apparel brand communities. In addition, the effect of apparel brand image differs, depending on the level and types of community usage-needs satisfactions. Therefore, marketers of apparel brand companies must determine the appropriate usage-needs, depending on the type of commitment they wish to increase and the level of their apparel brand image, to promote member's commitments to apparel brand communities. Especially, relationship-needs satisfaction was very important factor for increasing emotional, continuous and normative commitments to communities. However the level of relationship-needs satisfaction was lower than interest-needs and transaction-needs. satisfaction. According to previous study on apparel brand communities, relationship-need satisfaction was strongly related to member's intention of participation in their communities. Therefore, marketers need to develope various strategies in order to increase the relationship- needs as well as interest and transaction needs. In addition, despite continuous commitment was higher than emotional and normative commitments, all types of commitments to apparel brand communities had scores lower than 3.0 that was mid point in 5-point scale. A Korean study reported that the level of members' commitment to apparel brand community influenced customers' identification with a brand and brand purchasing behavior. Therefore, marketers should try to increase members' usage-needs satisfaction and apparel brand image as the necessary conditions for bringing about community commitments. Second, marketers should understand that they should keep in mind that increasing the level of community usage needs (transaction and relationship) is most effective in raising commitment when the level of apparel brand image is high, and that increasing usage needs (transaction needs) satisfaction in communities with low brand image might not be as effective as anticipated. Therefore, apparel companies with desirable brand image such as luxury designer goods firms need to create formal online brand communities (as opposed to informal communities with rudimentary online contents) to satisfy transaction and relationship needs systematically. It will create brand equity through consumers' increased emotional, continuous and normative commitments. Even though apparel brand is very famous, emotional commitment to apparel brand communities cannot be easily increased without transaction-needs satisfaction. Therefore famous fashion brand companies should focus on developing various marketing strategies to increase transaction-needs satisfaction.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.729-764
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to look into current situations of urban-to-rural migrants' community participation and its relationship with rural life satisfaction. This topic is important because one of the main barriers to migration decision is job availability, especially in rural areas. Besides, rural areas need more human resources to support aging communities, as rural population is constantly decreasing. For this study, we used the methods of survey and in-depth interview with structured questionnaire. We met 121 respondents who were in community participation activities by the snowball sampling method in 10 counties nationwide. As a result, we identified community participation activities could contribute to urban-to-rural migrants' stable settlement and improving their satisfaction with rural lives.

• Asian Journal for Public Opinion Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.108-122
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• 2017

This study explores how South Korean citizens evaluate corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices based on communal and exchange relationships. Specifically, it examines whether their evaluations of the two types of relationships are related to their supportive opinions, such as positive attitudes toward corporations and behavioral intentions to purchase products. The findings show that the communal relationship between an energy corporation and its local residents is more related to their supportive opinions than exchange relationship. That is, a communal relationship tends to generate more positive business outcomes than an exchange relationship. This study concludes that corporations should prepare for useful community outreach and CSR programs for their local community. Practitioners need to focus on building communal relationships with community members through their programs.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.25-36
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• 2023

Purpose: Brand community in higher education institutions comes up as an important topic to be discussed because the relationships among consumers can support the institutional brand and ultimately give meaning and vitality to the market-oriented strategy. This study aims to investigate how the literature on brand community in higher education have been distributed in research trends, theoretical frameworks, and methods. Research design, data and methodology: A total of 24 articles were organized from four reputable international databases. Content analysis were performed followed by synthesis toward potential directions and suggestions. Results: The researches in this area have increasingly focused on online interaction. Social identity theory and relationship theory were the two most prevalent theories used. Since the internet provides any social relationship with a specific relationship to form the brand community, its contextualization in higher education resulted in new concept implementation. Conclusions: The relationship within online participati on has impacted the market-oriented strategy of higher education in searching for ways toward a long-term and enduring bond among students, alumni, institutions and brands. As there is a plenteous prospect of data availability combined with big data analysis technology, the online participation will pique the interest of scholars to conduct further research on it.

• Journal of Sport and Applied Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.9-18
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• 2022

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the relationship marketing between football club organizations, players, and the fans club community. Research design, data, and methodology: An ethnographic approach was used to observe for eight months in the community, interviews, and documents analysis in Bonek Mania community fans club and Persebaya, a football club management in Surabaya, Indonesia. Results: The results show that the management of the football club has maintained the football high-end brand image in the national league. Stakeholders have endeavored to build the values and shared meaning with the public and cohesively with Bonek Mania. The struggles and achievements are intended to maintain the local collective memory of Surabaya's patriotism as the "city of heroes." Sustainable relationships were built by professional football club managers, players, and the fans club to foster the spirit, economic resources, and sustainable development. Conclusions: This research implies that it can provide direction for the management of football clubs by paying attention to relationship marketing, developing unique local values to build the customers' loyalty. Further implications were discussed.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.25
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• pp.339-370
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• 2008

As the Internet environment develops, Internet has already been being established as important tool of business marketing and branding. In particular, a brand community where customers interact with other customers who have the same interest in brand provides a variety of benefits to customers as well as companies. The brand community makes it possible for company to build, and retain relationships with customers, and capture new market opportunities. Therefore, this study examines the relationship among service quality of brand community, customer value, customer satisfaction, customer trust, and brand community loyalty in online brand communities. The results of empirical analysis can be summarized by the following: First, service quality of brand community had a significant direct effect on customer value. Second, service quality of brand community had a significant direct effect on customer satisfaction. It had also a positive, significant indirect effect on customer satisfaction through customer value and customer trust. Third, service quality of brand community had a significant indirect effect on brand community loyalty through customer satisfaction, customer value, and customer trust. Therefore, These finding will spawn both academic and practitioner interest in brand community and serve as a foundation for further research in this important area.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.221-231
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of participation in adult education on cognitive function, and the mediating effects of relationships with children among older adults. This study employed data from the 2011 Elderly Survey, and a total of 8,668 older adults over 65-years old were used for analysis. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the mediating effect of relationship with children based on the approach proposed by Baron & Kenny (1986). The results showed that participation in adult education increased cognitive function of older adults. Adult education participation also increased satisfaction with relationship with children, and relationship with children was found to have a mediating effect. These findings suggest that there is a need to recognize the importance of the relationship between older adults and children when developing education programs for older adults.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.12 no.1 s.30
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• pp.49-58
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• 2006

Rearing community youth has been main factors of sustainable agriculture and rural community. The purposes of this study were to analyze the leadership skill and organizational commitment of community youth and to investigate the relationship between leadership skill and organizational commitment. The data were collected from 196 rural youth by stratified random sampling. The study was adopted t-test, ANOVA factor analysis and correlation analysis. The major findings of this study were as follows; First, community youth married, wealthier, and expanded farming area were more likely to have leadership life skills than others. Second, community youth wealthier and expanded farming area were more likely to have organizational commitment than others. Third, group activity, being leader, teaming skill, communication self understanding, decision making, language skill among leadership skills have positively correlated with organizational commitment.