BEYOND TECHNOCRACY - Issue S2 - How Capital Disparities Shape Gerontechnology Expectations Across Age Cohorts

Sep 29, 2026

Gerontechnology for aging-in-place is often shaped by biomedical and technocratic biases, neglecting disparities in how older adults engage with technology. This study applies Bourdieu’s capital theory to examine how cultural capital (electronic-health literacy and self-rated health) and social capital (intergenerational support) differently influence expectations for health-focused gerontechnology across age cohorts. Data from 869 Chinese adults aged 60–99 compare safety-monitoring and health-management expectations using path analysis. Results show distinct cohort patterns and highlight inequities from lifelong capital accumulation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Study Background

Conceptual Framework

Methods

Results by Age Cohort

Implications for Structural Interventions

Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 1053 Abstract citation ID: igaf122.3547 BEYOND TECHNOCRACY: HOW CAPITAL DISPARITIES SHAPE GERONTECHNOLOGY EXPECTATIONS ACROSS AGE COHORTS Yuhan Gao1, and Yajun Song2, 1. Peking University, Beijing, Beijing, China (People’s Republic), 2. East ChinaUniversity of Science and Technology, Shanghai, Shanghai, China (People’s Republic) Gerontechnology holds transformative potential for aging-inplace. However, its prevailing designs often reflect biomedical and technocratic biases, overlooking critical disparities in older adults’ technological engagement that fundamentally reflect inequities in cultural capital (electronic-health literacy and self-rated health) and social capital (intergenerational support) . Grounded in Bourdieu’s capital theory, this study investigates how these multidimensional factors differentially shape expectations toward health-focused gerontechnology across age cohorts. We analyzed data from 869 Chinese older adults aged 60-99, categorized into three cohorts (60-64, 65-79, and 80-99) . Path analysis was conducted to assess how electronic-health literacy, intergenerational support, self-rated health and other socioeconomic characteristics relate to older people’s expectations of two health-focused gerontechnology types: safety-monitoring and 1054 Innovation in Aging, 2025, Vol. 9, No. S2 health-management. Distinct patterns emerged. The young-old cohort (60–64 years) with higher e-health literacy and poorer health status demonstrated significantly stronger expectations for both gerontechnology, whereas the middle-old cohort (65–79 years) with health declines primarily anticipated safety-monitoring benefits. The oldest-old cohort (80–99 years) revealed divergent dynamics—informational support increased expectations for both gerontechnology, yet reduced instrumental support correlated with health-management interest. These findings underscore that gerontechnology expectations are not merely a function of individual capability but reflect systemic inequities in lifelong capital accumulation. By moving beyond individual-centric adoption models, we argue for structural interventions that address disparities in e-health literacy and social support systems.

FAQs

What theoretical framework guides the study?

The study is grounded in Bourdieu’s capital theory, linking technological expectations to cultural capital and social capital among older adults.

How did the researchers measure expectations of gerontechnology?

They analyzed relationships using path analysis between electronic-health literacy, intergenerational support, self-rated health, and other socioeconomic characteristics, focusing on two health-focused gerontechnology types.

What are the key differences in expectations across age cohorts?

The young-old cohort shows stronger expectations when electronic-health literacy is higher but health status is poorer; the middle-old cohort anticipates mainly safety-monitoring benefits; the oldest-old cohort shows mixed dynamics where informational support increases expectations while instrumental support relates differently to health-management interest.

Sep 29, 2026

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