Technology Acceptance in Older Adults

As populations age across the globe, enabling older adults to engage confidently with digital tools has become a pressing concern for healthcare, social inclusion and independent living. Research in this field examines not only the individual characteristics of older users but also the technical, environmental and social factors that shape their willingness to adopt new systems. Seminal frameworks such as the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and its variants (for example TRAM) highlight the roles of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use in forming positive attitudes and behavioural intentions. More recent work has drawn on broader theories—such as the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) framework—to capture the interplay between external stimuli (for instance design features), internal states (such as technology anxiety or self-efficacy) and ultimate adoption decisions. Across contexts ranging from telehealth and wearable monitors to smartphone apps and virtual environments, common barriers include limited digital literacy, privacy and trust concerns, stereotypical assumptions about ageing and mismatches between product design and older adults’ needs. Addressing these challenges demands evidence-based design guidelines, targeted training or support, and policy interventions to narrow the digital divide and ensure that the benefits of technology are equitably realised in later life.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A recent study applying the Stimulus-Organism-Response framework to smartphone use among older adults in China integrated elements of planned behaviour theory, self-efficacy theory and the Technology Acceptance Model. It found that technology anxiety, subjective norms and perceived ease of use directly influenced behavioural intention, while facilitating conditions largely shaped both self-efficacy and ease of use. Subjective norms and self-efficacy also mediated technology anxiety, and perceived usefulness was driven by social influence and ease of use. This comprehensive model underscores how social encouragement, confidence and clear demonstration of benefits can mitigate anxiety and foster smartphone uptake among elders.

Technology Acceptance in Older Adults publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in technology acceptance in older adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Technology Acceptance Model (TAM): A theoretical framework positing that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use determine attitude and intention to use a system.

Perceived Usefulness: The degree to which a user believes a technology will enhance personal performance or quality of life.

Perceived Ease of Use: The extent to which a user expects minimal effort in learning and operating a technology.

Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM): An extension of TAM that incorporates individual readiness dimensions such as optimism, innovativeness and discomfort.

Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) Framework: A model describing how external stimuli affect internal psychological states, which in turn shape behavioural responses.

eHealth Literacy: The ability to seek, understand and appraise health information from electronic sources and apply it to health problems.

References

1. Using SOR framework to explore the driving factors of older adults smartphone use behavior. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2023).
2. The Usage of Digital Health Technology Among Older Adults in Hong Kong and the Role of Technology Readiness and eHealth Literacy: Path Analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).
3. Application and Challenges of the Technology Acceptance Model in Elderly Healthcare: Insights from ChatGPT. Technologies (2024).
4. The Factors Influencing Older Adults’ Decisions Surrounding Adoption of Technology: Quantitative Experimental Study. JMIR Aging (2022).