Factors predicting the use of technology: Findings from the center for research and education on aging and technology enhancement (create).

TLDR

Technology adoption is increasingly vital for functional independence. This study reports CREATE findings on technology use among community‑dwelling adults. The study surveyed 1,204 adults aged 18–91, assessing demographics, health, technology experience, computer attitudes, and cognitive abilities. Older adults used technology less, with computer anxiety, fluid and crystallized intelligence predicting use; age effects were mediated by cognitive abilities, self‑efficacy, and anxiety, indicating training strategies could enhance adoption.

Abstract

The successful adoption of technology is becoming increasingly important to functional independence. The present article reports findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) on the use of technology among community-dwelling adults. The sample included 1,204 individuals ranging in age from 18-91 years. All participants completed a battery that included measures of demographic characteristics, self-rated health, experience with technology, attitudes toward computers, and component cognitive abilities. Findings indicate that the older adults were less likely than younger adults to use technology in general, computers, and the World Wide Web. The results also indicate that computer anxiety, fluid intelligence, and crystallized intelligence were important predictors of the use of technology. The relationship between age and adoption of technology was mediated by cognitive abilities, computer self-efficacy, and computer anxiety. These findings are discussed in terms of training strategies to promote technology adoption.