Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Subjective Technology Adaptivity Inventory (STAI)

Subjective technology adaptivity, as a motivational resource related to technology use, has become an important predictor of technology use among older people. Given intensifying population aging and rising digital health management demands among older Chinese with chronic diseases, this study aimed to translate the Subjective Technology Adaptivity Inventory (STAI) into Chinese and explore its psychometric properties among older adults with chronic diseases.

A two-phase adaptation and validation study was conducted. 635 older patients with chronic diseases were recruited to assess the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the STAI. Besides item analysis, this study evaluated the inventory's content validity, structural validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, known-groups validity, internal consistency, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability.

The Chinese version of the STAI had satisfactory structural validity with a stable three-factor structure in the exploratory factor analysis and good fit indices in the confirmatory factor analysis, and good content validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, and known-groups validity. The Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.932, split-half reliability of 0.883, and test-retest reliability of 0.809 were excellent.

The Chinese version of the STAI had good validity and reliability among older patients with chronic diseases. In clinical practice, this instrument can help healthcare professionals identify individuals with low subjective technology adaptivity, who may require additional support when using digital devices. Providing simple guidance and opportunities for repeated practice can improve their engagement with healthcare technology in routine self-management.