Interplay of Perceptions of Aging, Care, and Technology Acceptance in Older Age

Abstract

Addressing demographic change, assistive technologies are developed to support people in need of care. So far, little is known about the impact of context-related individual perceptions on the adoption of such technologies. The present study investigates the extent of relationships between (a) aging-, care-, and health-related perceptions and (b) the perception and acceptance of using assistive technologies. In an online survey (N = 1123), the participants assessed individual perceptions of aging, care, health, perceived benefits, barriers, and acceptance of an assistive system. Using structural equation modeling the relationships between individual attitudes and acceptance were investigated. Results revealed that perceptions of care were related to acceptance, perceived barriers, and benefits. Positive perceptions of aging were related to perceived benefits and care. Moreover, perceived vitality correlated with perceptions of aging and perceived benefits. The study provided insights into individual perceptions of aging, care, and health as well as their relationships with assistive technology’s acceptance.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants for their willingness and openness to share their perspectives, wishes, and concerns regarding their life in older age and usage of assistive technologies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the research project PAAL (6SV7955), funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The support of the Joint Programme Initiative “More Years, Better Lives” (PAAL_JTC2017) is also acknowledged.

Notes on contributors

Julia Offermann

Julia Offermann is working as a research assistant at the Human-Computer Interaction Center at RWTH Aachen University, Germany. She holds a master's degree in communication science combined with basics of mechanical engineering. Her doctoral thesis focused on acceptance and perception of assisting technology in the context of aging and care.

Wiktoria Wilkowska

Wiktoria Wilkowska works as a senior researcher at the Human-Computer Interaction Center at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. She is a graduate psychologist and her doctoral thesis focused on relevant patterns of human factors in the exploration of technology acceptance in the field of medical assistance systems in home environments.

Martina Ziefle

Martina Ziefle is professor for Communication Science, head of the Chair for Communication Science and founding member of the Human-Computer Interaction Center at RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Her research focuses on the interface between humans and technology, taking into account different usage contexts and user requirements.