Bridging the Older Adult Digital Divide Through the Digital Habitus.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Sociology of Technology
• Digital Inclusion

Background:

• Rapid digitalization presents challenges for older adults' integration into urban environments.
• Understanding technology adoption among seniors is crucial for inclusive smart-city initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how older adults in Guangzhou adapt to a digitalizing city using Bourdieu's concepts of habitus and capital.
• To explore the factors influencing digital adaptation and identify strategies for bridging digital exclusion.

Main Methods:

• Semistructured interviews with 25 smartphone-owning adults aged 60+ in Guangzhou.
• Analysis framed by Bourdieu's theory of habitus and social capital.

Main Results:

• Older adults exhibit path-dependent adaptation, blending familiar routines with new digital practices.
• Adaptation is partial and uneven, influenced by education, resources, confidence, and intergenerational support.
• Digital habitus and digital capital (access + competencies) facilitate economic, social, and cultural benefits.

Conclusions:

• Intergenerational support is vital for overcoming digital exclusion among older adults.
• Findings inform inclusive design and training to enhance digital benefits for seniors.
• The study refines Bourdieu's habitus theory in the context of digital aging and smart-city governance.