Abstract
Although information and communication technologies have become an integral part of contemporary societies, substantial proportions of the older population remain distant from these digital tools. This stresses the importance of identifying age-specific factors that facilitate or prevent technology adoption among older age groups. Despite being powerful determinants of behavior and health in late adulthood, little is known about the role of stereotypical perceptions about age and aging in the behavioral engagement with technological devices. Across two longitudinal studies, we examined the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior, as well as the mediating role of cognitive functioning. Study 1 was based on the 2010, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 3404). Study 2 was based on the 2014 and 2017 waves of the German Ageing Survey (n = 4871). Both studies revealed that more positive self-perceptions of aging were associated with more frequent computer use behavior. Moreover, this relationship was partially mediated by cognitive functioning. This suggests that perceptions about their aging experience can influence how individuals behave towards computer technology by impacting important predictors of use behavior. Interventions promoting positive self-perceptions of aging may thus contribute to the digital inclusion of middle-aged and older adults.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106807 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Computers in Human Behavior |
| Volume | 121 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2021 |
Keywords
- Ageism
- Stereotype embodiment
- Self-perceptions of aging
- Cognition
- Technology
- Longitudinal
- OLDER-ADULTS
- AGE-DIFFERENCES
- INTERNET USE
- INFORMATION SEARCH
- PROCESSING-SPEED
- FIT INDEXES
- PERFORMANCE
- HEALTH
- STEREOTYPES
- TECHNOLOGY
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- 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106807Licence: CC BY
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In: Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 121, 106807, 08.2021.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cognitive functioning mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior in late adulthood
T2 - Evidence from two longitudinal studies
AU - Mariano, Joao
AU - Marques, Sibila
AU - Ramos, Miguel R.
AU - de Vries, Hein
N1 - Funding Information: The German Ageing Survey (DEAS, Klaus et al., 2017 ) is a nationally representative cohort-sequential survey of the German population aged 40 years or over. The DEAS is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ; grant number 301-6083-05/003 ∗ 2) and is organized by the German Centre of Gerontology (DZA). Data collection consists of a computer-assisted personal interview and a “drop-off” self-completed questionnaire. The present study is based on all respondents aged 40 years or older who completed the personal interview and the drop-off questionnaire in 2014 and 2017 (Time 1 [T1] and Time 2 [T2], respectively; n = 4871), the most recent waves that included the same measures of self-perceptions of aging, cognitive functioning, and computer use behavior. Funding Information: This work was supported by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Portugal), under the project PD/BD/128322/2017 . Funding Information: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS, Sonnega et al., 2014) is a biennial longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of the United States population aged over 50 years and their spouses of any age. The HRS is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (grant number NIA U01AG009740) and is conducted by the University of Michigan. A “leave-behind” self-completed psychosocial questionnaire has been administered to a rotating half of the sample every four years since 2006. The present study is based on all respondents aged 50 years or older who completed the core interview and the psychosocial questionnaire in 2010, 2014, and 2018 (Time 1 [T1], Time 2 [T2], and Time 3 [T3], respectively; n = 3404), the most recent waves that included the same measures of self-perceptions of aging, cognitive functioning, and computer use behavior.The autoregressive associations of self-perceptions of aging (b = 0.76, p < .001), cognitive functioning (b = 0.67, p < .001), and computer use behavior (b = 0.79, p < .001) were all significant, substantial, and positive. Supporting Hypothesis 1, the direct association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T3 was significant and positive (b = 0.10, p = .021). Also supporting Hypothesis 2, the indirect association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T3 was significant and positive (b = 0.017, p < .001, 95% CI [0.010, 0.025]). The cross-lagged associations from self-perceptions to cognitive functioning (b = 0.09, p < .001) and from cognitive functioning to use behavior (b = 0.20, p < .001) were all significant and positive, consistently with Hypotheses 2a and 2b, respectively. Lastly, the total association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T3 was also significant and positive (b = 0.12, p = .007). Taken together, these results indicate that cognitive functioning partially mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior over eight years.The German Ageing Survey (DEAS, Klaus et al., 2017) is a nationally representative cohort-sequential survey of the German population aged 40 years or over. The DEAS is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ; grant number 301-6083-05/003∗2) and is organized by the German Centre of Gerontology (DZA). Data collection consists of a computer-assisted personal interview and a “drop-off” self-completed questionnaire. The present study is based on all respondents aged 40 years or older who completed the personal interview and the drop-off questionnaire in 2014 and 2017 (Time 1 [T1] and Time 2 [T2], respectively; n = 4871), the most recent waves that included the same measures of self-perceptions of aging, cognitive functioning, and computer use behavior.The autoregressive associations of self-perceptions of aging (b = 0.82, p < .001), cognitive functioning (b = 0.73, p < .001), and computer use behavior (b = 0.79, p < .001) were all significant, substantial, and positive. Supporting Hypothesis 1, the direct association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T2 was significant and positive (b = 0.11, p = .039). Also supporting Hypothesis 2, the indirect association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T2 was significant and positive (b = 0.029, p < .001, 95% CI [0.016, 0.042]). The cross-lagged associations from self-perceptions at T1 to cognitive functioning at T2 (b = 2.04, p < .001) and from cognitive functioning at T1 to use behavior at T2 (b = 0.01, p < .001) were both significant and positive, in line with Hypotheses 2a and 2b, respectively. Lastly, the total association from self-perceptions of aging at T1 to computer use behavior at T2 was also significant and positive (b = 0.14, p = .010). Overall, these results show that cognitive functioning partially mediates the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior over three years.Despite some inconsistencies between studies, reciprocal relationships were observed between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior, indicating that these factors may influence each other mutually over time. More frequent use behavior was directly associated with more positive self-perceptions over three years, but not over eight years. Moreover, greater use behavior was indirectly associated with positive self-perceptions via episodic memory, but not through processing speed. These findings suggest that, to some extent, computer technology may also influence how older individuals perceive their aging experience by contributing to their health and well-being. Nonetheless, the strength of the associations observed in both studies indicates that self-perceptions of aging are primarily an antecedent rather than an outcome of use behavior. Furthermore, Cody et al. (1999) found no support for the impact of technology use on self-perceptions of aging, as older adults’ perceptions about their own aging did not significantly change after participating in an internet training program over four months. Given these inconclusive findings, future research should further explore the potential of information and communication technology to improve self-perceptions of aging.This work was supported by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Portugal), under the project PD/BD/128322/2017. Funding Information: The Health and Retirement Study (HRS, Sonnega et al., 2014 ) is a biennial longitudinal survey of a nationally representative sample of the United States population aged over 50 years and their spouses of any age. The HRS is sponsored by the National Institute on Aging (grant number NIA U01AG009740) and is conducted by the University of Michigan . A “leave-behind” self-completed psychosocial questionnaire has been administered to a rotating half of the sample every four years since 2006. The present study is based on all respondents aged 50 years or older who completed the core interview and the psychosocial questionnaire in 2010, 2014, and 2018 (Time 1 [T1], Time 2 [T2], and Time 3 [T3], respectively; n = 3404), the most recent waves that included the same measures of self-perceptions of aging, cognitive functioning, and computer use behavior. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2021/8
Y1 - 2021/8
N2 - Although information and communication technologies have become an integral part of contemporary societies, substantial proportions of the older population remain distant from these digital tools. This stresses the importance of identifying age-specific factors that facilitate or prevent technology adoption among older age groups. Despite being powerful determinants of behavior and health in late adulthood, little is known about the role of stereotypical perceptions about age and aging in the behavioral engagement with technological devices. Across two longitudinal studies, we examined the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior, as well as the mediating role of cognitive functioning. Study 1 was based on the 2010, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 3404). Study 2 was based on the 2014 and 2017 waves of the German Ageing Survey (n = 4871). Both studies revealed that more positive self-perceptions of aging were associated with more frequent computer use behavior. Moreover, this relationship was partially mediated by cognitive functioning. This suggests that perceptions about their aging experience can influence how individuals behave towards computer technology by impacting important predictors of use behavior. Interventions promoting positive self-perceptions of aging may thus contribute to the digital inclusion of middle-aged and older adults.
AB - Although information and communication technologies have become an integral part of contemporary societies, substantial proportions of the older population remain distant from these digital tools. This stresses the importance of identifying age-specific factors that facilitate or prevent technology adoption among older age groups. Despite being powerful determinants of behavior and health in late adulthood, little is known about the role of stereotypical perceptions about age and aging in the behavioral engagement with technological devices. Across two longitudinal studies, we examined the relationship between self-perceptions of aging and computer use behavior, as well as the mediating role of cognitive functioning. Study 1 was based on the 2010, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (n = 3404). Study 2 was based on the 2014 and 2017 waves of the German Ageing Survey (n = 4871). Both studies revealed that more positive self-perceptions of aging were associated with more frequent computer use behavior. Moreover, this relationship was partially mediated by cognitive functioning. This suggests that perceptions about their aging experience can influence how individuals behave towards computer technology by impacting important predictors of use behavior. Interventions promoting positive self-perceptions of aging may thus contribute to the digital inclusion of middle-aged and older adults.
KW - Ageism
KW - Stereotype embodiment
KW - Self-perceptions of aging
KW - Cognition
KW - Technology
KW - Longitudinal
KW - OLDER-ADULTS
KW - AGE-DIFFERENCES
KW - INTERNET USE
KW - INFORMATION SEARCH
KW - PROCESSING-SPEED
KW - FIT INDEXES
KW - PERFORMANCE
KW - HEALTH
KW - STEREOTYPES
KW - TECHNOLOGY
U2 - 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106807
DO - 10.1016/j.chb.2021.106807
M3 - Article
SN - 0747-5632
VL - 121
JO - Computers in Human Behavior
JF - Computers in Human Behavior
M1 - 106807
ER -