How to make AI a true gateway to digital life for the elderly? — Key factors and empowering pathways for the continuous use of conversational AI among older adults
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47989/ir31262909Abstract
Introduction. Against the backdrop of digital transformation and population aging, the development of conversational AI, by lowering the barrier to use through natural language interaction, offers new opportunities to enhance the digital participation of older adults. This study focuses on the context of older adults using conversational AI and aims to explore, from the perspective of social cognitive theory, the key factors and empowering pathways that promote the sustained technology adoption among the elderly.
Method. We conducted a questionnaire survey on 306 older adults with experience using conversational AI.
Analysis. We conducted quantitative analysis on the questionnaire data using SmartPls3 software and structural equation modelling measurement methods.
Results. This study found that self-efficacy and outcome expectations are core antecedent variables predicting older adults' intention to continue using conversational AI. Outcome expectations fully mediate the relationship between self-efficacy and continuance intention. Mastery experience and affective arousal are the primary sources of self-efficacy. Mastery experience, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, and affective arousal all have significant effects on outcome expectations.
Conclusion. At the theoretical level, this study extends social cognitive theory to the emerging context of conversational AI use among Chinese older adults, empirically testing its core mechanisms and thereby achieving a contextualised application of the theory. At the practical level, the study proposes a four-dimensional support strategy, offering actionable intervention pathways for building an age-friendly digital ecosystem.
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