Abstract: Taking WeChat as the research sample, this study explores the negative emotions emerging in the social networking services (SNS) use and their configurations effects on SNS intermittent discontinuance behavior through a mixed study. Employing interviews and content analysis, the qualitative research of Study 1 found that, a variety of negative emotions, such as fatigue, anxiety, envy, frustration, disappointment, depression, worry and anger, are generated from SNS intermittent discontinuance behavior. And these emotions play separate or interactive roles. Furthermore, using 300 online questionnaires and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), the empirical research of Study 2 revealed that, three configurations of conditions lead to SNS intermittent discontinuance behavior, i.e., users with envy, users with fatigue, and users with both envy and fatigue. They exert different levels of configuration effects on generating SNS intermittent discontinuance behavior. This study further enriches studies on negative emotions and social media user behavior, and confirms the complexity of emotions during social media use. In addition, this study provides theoretical references for service providers to retain users and for users to use SNS rationally.

Key words: Intermittent discontinuance, Social networking services, Negative emotions, Mix study, Fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis(fsQCA)