Factors influencing behavioral intention toward care robots among mildly disabled older adults: a path analysis

With the accelerating global population aging and the sustained growth in the number of older adults with disabilities, addressing the care needs of this vulnerable population has become a pressing public health concern worldwide. Technological advancements have propelled the integration of robotics into healthcare, and the development and application of care robots hold considerable promise for enhancing the quality of life among disabled older adults.

This study aimed to evaluate the willingness of mildly disabled older adults to adopt care robots, identify key influencing factors, and elucidate the underlying pathways through which these factors exert their effects.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sampling approach. From August to December 2024, a total of 245 disabled older adults residing in three nursing institutions in Changsha City were enrolled. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire, and path analysis was performed to explore the relationships among variables.

The overall acceptance rate of care robots among mildly disabled older adults was 61.5%. Direct predictors of behavioral intention included facilitating conditions and attitude toward use. Indirect influencing factors encompassed service quality, individual innovation, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness-with facilitating conditions also functioning as a direct determinant.

More than half of the mildly disabled older adults in nursing institutions expressed optimism that the use of care robots could improve their quality of life.