RESEARCH PAPERS

Research on the Formation Mechanism of User Privacy Paradox in the Context of Quantified Self

  • Yao Shanji ,
  • Liu Wenli ,
  • Liu Jiajing
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  • School of Economics and Management, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816
Yao Shanji, Dean, Professor, PhD, Master’s Supervisor, E-mail: yaoshanji@126.com; Liu Wenli, Master’s Candidate; Liu Jiajing, Lecturer, PhD.

Received date: 2025-04-03

  Revised date: 2025-08-13

  Online published: 2026-03-14

Supported by

This work is supported by the key project of National Social Science Fund of China titled “Research on the Consumer Well-Being Dilemma and Its Governance in the Context of Digital Marketing” (Grant No. 22AGL022) and the funding program of Outstanding Teaching Team of Jiangsu Colleges and Universities “Qing Lan Project”.

Abstract

[Purpose/Significance] This study aims to explore the privacy paradox in the context of quantified self, providing theoretical and practical insights to address challenges in personal information protection, promote standardized management of health management platforms, and foster positive interactions between platforms and users. [Method/Process] First, user data is collected through interviews and analyzed using the procedural grounded theory approach with three-stage coding. Then, integrating the qualitative research findings with existing literature, a privacy paradox formation mechanism model is constructed. Finally, an empirical test is conducted using data from 309 valid questionnaires. [Result/Conclusion] User perceived severity and perceived susceptibility to privacy threats increase their privacy concern and reduce their privacy disclosure intention. Privacy concern further decreases privacy disclosure intention and mediates the relationship between perceived severity and privacy disclosure intention. Both technological affordance and boundary management can mitigate or even reverse the negative effect of privacy concern on privacy disclosure intention, as well as the mediating role of privacy concern between perceived severity and privacy disclosure intention.

Cite this article

Yao Shanji , Liu Wenli , Liu Jiajing . Research on the Formation Mechanism of User Privacy Paradox in the Context of Quantified Self[J]. Library and Information Service, 2026 , 70(6) : 66 -80 . DOI: 10.13266/j.issn.0252-3116.2026.06.006

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