Aging in a Digital World - Attitudes and Behaviors towards Technology Use Across the Life-Span

Abstract

This dissertation addressed two major issues of our time: the proliferation of technologies and the aging of society. The overall goal of this dissertation was to better understand how age relates to the distinct parts of the technology adoption process: For one, the role of age was analyzed in relation to determinants of technology use (study 1) and for another, age was analyzed in relation to technostress and coping behaviors (study 2). Study 1 investigated how chronological age related to technology acceptance. A meta-analysis including 144 studies was conducted to integrate inconsistent results of previous studies. Results showed aggregated negative bivariate relationships between age and determinants of technology use (PEOU, PU, and ITU). However, a meta-analytic path model including all variables revealed that when indirect effects were taken into account, age was neither directly related to PU nor to ITU. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that age effects were moderated by type of technology. Bivariate relationships were stable over time and across mandatory and voluntary settings. Thus, this study helped to bring much needed closure to inconsistent findings on age and technology acceptance. Study 2 investigated the interplay between chronological age and technology-related strain mediated by techno-stressors and coping strategy choices in organizational settings. Longitudinal data from 1,216 employees over a time period of 8 months were used to perform multilevel mediation modeling. Age was negatively associated with technology-related strain. This relationship was mediated through behavioral disengagement, which older workers used less than younger workers. Active coping and social coping did not act as mediators of this relationship. Understanding these processes allows modifying coping strategy choices in employees and mitigate negative outcomes of technostress at the workplace. The results of this dissertation provide a base for a more comprehensive understanding of older adults as users and consumers of technology, especially in the work context and, furthermore, devaluate common age stereotypes.