Factors Associated With Digital Confidence and Use of Technology Among Older Queenslanders

Digital technology increasingly plays an important role in supporting older adults to live longer and healthier lives. However, research consistently identifies barriers to technology usage for some older adults, particularly as they age. This study draws on data from a survey of older adults (aged 65 years and older) to improve our understanding of the role that confidence with technology plays in older adults' technology acceptance.

We analysed technology usage and acceptance data from 547 Queensland older adults (53% male, 47% female) gathered as part of a larger survey examining how technology may assist the development of an in-home heat early warning system for older Queenslanders. Respondents fell within five age range groups, 65-69 years (24%), 70-74 years (29%), 75-79 years (28%), 80-84 years (12%) and 85+ (7%).

Respondents from the highest age range groups were more apprehensive about, and were slower to adopt, new technologies. Moreover, overall use of technology also declined with age, implying the need to consider ageing cohorts when considering technology acceptance. When looking at digital confidence, our results highlight that age was the only independent variable that predicted (inversely) digital confidence, and somewhat counterintuitively, frustration with technology. This may suggest that older cohorts avoid using new technology to avoid the risk of frustration.

Results from the survey data add to our knowledge of the patterns of technology usage and acceptance by older adults. Our analysis underscores the need to consider variables such as confidence or frustration with technology when considering whether cutting-edge technologies will benefit older users.