Too old for technology? The influence of age stereotypes on technology use by older adults for health promotion

Ph.D researcher: João Mariano, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Centro de Investigação e Intervenção Social (CIS-IUL), Portugal

Supervisor: Sibila Marques, ISCTE-IUL, CIS-IUL, Portugal

Co-researchers:

Hein de Vries, Maastricht University, Netherlands

Anton Dijker, Maastricht University, Netherlands

Funding: This work is supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grant number PD/BD/128322/2017).

Objective: Older adults use information and communication technologies (ICT), such as computers and the internet, to a lesser extent than younger adults, preventing them from taking advantage of their benefits. Innovatively, this research project aims to explore whether a previously overlooked factor – age stereotypes – influence ICT use by older adults, with an emphasis on ICT applied to health.

Method: Across four studies, we plan to explore whether age stereotypes about technological competence negatively impact older adults’ ICT use, including potential mediating and moderating factors. These will include cross-sectional and experimental studies.

Results: No results so far.

Publications: No publications so far.