Partitioning online experiential consumption increases subjective well-being during the times of uncertainty

The current study suggests an effective compensatory control strategy using partitioning experiential consumption that can be implemented into consumers’ daily activities. Across four experiments, we examined the effects of partitioned (vs. aggregated) message formats and financial anxiety on sense of control, subjective well-being, and ad attitudes. Specifically, our findings indicated that consumers with higher (vs. lower) levels of financial anxiety respond more favorably toward partitioned (vs. aggregated) experiential messages. Our results provide timely contributions for researchers and practitioners who are interested in understanding and implementing advertising and marketing strategies in the digital landscape with improving consumers’ well-being in mind.