Technology Attitude among Iranian Older Adults

Abdipour, N.; Rakhshanderou, S.; Ghaffari, M.

doi:10.58209/hehp.14.1.157

Technology Attitude among Iranian Older Adults

Document Type : Descriptive & Survey

Authors

N. Abdipour

S. Rakhshanderou

M. Ghaffari

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health & Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.58209/hehp.14.1.157

Abstract

Aims: Older adults’ attitudes toward technology are key determinants of its acceptance or rejection, directly impacting the effectiveness of health interventions. This study aimed to investigate and measure older adults’ attitudes toward technology and to examine factors associated with these attitudes among individuals attending comprehensive health centers in Iran.
Instrument & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 420 participants were selected using multi-stage random sampling. The TechPH scale was employed to assess both technophilia and technophobia. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16.
Findings: The mean TechPH score among participants was 3.59±0.40, indicating generally positive technophilic attitudes. Younger older adults (aged 60-64) showed significantly higher technophilia than older groups (p=0.001), as did those with higher education levels (p=0.02), higher employment status (p=0.019), and better economic status (p=0.008). Daily Internet users (67.4%) and individuals with medium-to-good self-assessed technological skills (69.75%) exhibited significantly greater technophilia (p=0.001). Gender, marital status, and living arrangements were not significantly associated with TechPH scores (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Older adults in Iran generally hold positive attitudes toward technology.

Keywords

Aging

Technology

Attitude

Technophobia

Technophilia

Subjects

Technology of Health Education

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