The Impact of Digital Payment Methods on Consumers’ Impulse Consumption

Abstract

With China’s third-party payment penetration exceeding 86%, digital payments have profoundly changed consumers’ daily transactions. This study examines how different payment methods affect consumer behavior based on mental accounting theory and payment pain theory. A questionnaire was distributed through the Wenjuanxing platform, receiving 307 valid responses. Using SPSS, we conducted descriptive statistics, correlation tests, regression analyses, and tests of mediation and moderation effects. The findings indicate that frictionless payment methods (QR code scanning/face recognition) significantly reduce payment pain, leading to higher spending per transaction and a marked increase in the frequency of impulse consumption. Mental accounting mediates the relationship between payment method and consumer behavior, while payment pain moderates it. This research deepens understanding of the psychological mechanisms linking payment methods and consumption, and provides empirical references for consumer education, payment tool design, and related regulatory policies.