Young and older adults’ views of telephone talk: Conversation problems and social uses

Abstract

Age‐related changes and stereotyped expectations may pose challenges to older adults’ use of the telephone, an essential communication device in our society. This study, with 240 older and 156 young adults, provides baseline information about possible age differences in telephone conversation problems and in use of the telephone. Young adults expected older adults to have more communication problems on the telephone, but the self‐reports of the older adults were not more negative. The young used the telephone more frequently and emphasized sociability and instrumentality, while their older counterparts put relatively more emphasis on reassurance. Interrelationships among conversational difficulties and use of the telephone were examined within age groups. These findings are discussed in terms of the Communication Predicament of Aging Model and telephone conversation as a promising area of aging research.