TY - JOUR
T1 - The role of ageism in the acceptance and use of digital technology
AU - Mannheim, Ittay
AU - Varlamova, Maria
AU - Van zaalen, Yvonne
AU - Wouters, Eveline j. m.
N1 - This work was supported by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions [grant agreement no. 764632; “Euroageism”].
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Technology acceptance models associate older age with lower intention to use digital technology although this assumption is often stereotypically-based and not sufficiently tested with older persons. This study investigated the association of ageism (rather than chronological age) with behavioral intention and actual use of technology within the theoretical framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-2) model. 374 Dutch-speaking participants aged 50–97 completed the UTAUT-2 questionnaire, Expectations Regarding Aging, Attitudes Toward Older Adults Using Technology (ATOAUT-11) and experienced ageism scales. A path analysis found that expectations regarding aging partially mediated the association of age with negative attitudes. Mixed results were found regarding the fit of the new UTAUT-2-Ageism model. Negative ATOAUT moderated the associations of Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Habit with Behavioral Intention to use technology, and the explained variance increased. Further research is warranted to fully identify the potential role of ageism in technology acceptance.
AB - Technology acceptance models associate older age with lower intention to use digital technology although this assumption is often stereotypically-based and not sufficiently tested with older persons. This study investigated the association of ageism (rather than chronological age) with behavioral intention and actual use of technology within the theoretical framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-2) model. 374 Dutch-speaking participants aged 50–97 completed the UTAUT-2 questionnaire, Expectations Regarding Aging, Attitudes Toward Older Adults Using Technology (ATOAUT-11) and experienced ageism scales. A path analysis found that expectations regarding aging partially mediated the association of age with negative attitudes. Mixed results were found regarding the fit of the new UTAUT-2-Ageism model. Negative ATOAUT moderated the associations of Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Habit with Behavioral Intention to use technology, and the explained variance increased. Further research is warranted to fully identify the potential role of ageism in technology acceptance.
KW - OLDER PERSONS
KW - self-ageism
KW - experienced ageism
KW - Technology acceptance
KW - attitudes toward digital technology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150861455&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/07334648231163426
DO - 10.1177/07334648231163426
M3 - Article
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 42
SP - 1283
EP - 1294
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 6
ER -