The Impact of Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) on Consumer Purchase Intention: The Mediating Role of Trust

Abstract

The development of information and communication technology has significantly transformed consumer behavior, particularly in the process of searching for information prior to making a purchase. One rapidly growing phenomenon is Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM), which refers to informal communication among consumers through digital platforms such as social media, online forums, and product review websites. eWOM is considered more credible than traditional advertising because it originates from real user experiences. This study aims to analyze the impact of eWOM on consumer purchase intention with trust as a mediating variable. A quantitative approach with a cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving active users of digital platforms who accessed product reviews before purchasing. Data were collected via online questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression and mediation testing (Baron and Kenny approach with Sobel test). The findings reveal that eWOM has a positive and significant effect on consumer trust (β = 0.72) and directly influences purchase intention (β = 0.31). Trust demonstrates a stronger effect on purchase intention (β = 0.56) and serves as a significant mediator in the relationship between eWOM and purchase intention (indirect effect = 0.40). These results highlight that the quality, credibility, and consistency of eWOM information are crucial in building consumer trust, which subsequently enhances purchase intention. Theoretically, this study enriches digital marketing literature, while practically it provides implications for companies to manage online reviews transparently and foster consumer trust to drive purchasing decisions.