JMIR aging
Fear-Specific Technophobia as a Mediator Between Daily Technical Support and Instrumental Versus Hedonic Technology Use in Later Life: Cross-Sectional Survey Study
By Yang Y, Dai S, Yin S and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
Population aging and rapid digitalization have intensified concerns about older adults' digital participation. Although access disparities have narrowed, older adults continue to differ from younger groups in how they use digital technologies, with their use skewed toward instrumental rather than hedonic purposes. Technophobia is a salient psychological barrier; yet, its distinct fear dimensions and their links to different forms of technology use remain insufficiently differentiated. Daily technical support (DTS) may provide an important sociotechnical context for understanding these relationships.
Objective
This study aimed to test how DTS promotes older adults' instrumental and hedonic technology use by reducing multidimensional technophobia (fear of inconvenience, fear of personal failure, and human-machine ambiguity) and whether these mechanisms differ by gender.