THE IMPACT OF STEREOTYPE THREAT ON TECHNOLOGY USAGE IN OLDER ADULTS - Issue 2 - study findings and implications

Sep 29, 2026

Negative stereotypes about older adults and technology use, including assumptions about incompetency or difficulty learning new tools, can operate as age-based stereotype threat. That mechanism may hinder technology adoption, widening the digital divide and limiting benefits such as greater independence, improved quality of life, and reduced social isolation. This study examined stereotype threat using an objective smartphone task, testing group differences in performance, completion time, and anxiety.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages2

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Study background and rationale

Research questions and measures

Participants and procedure

Results and statistical findings

Discussion and future directions

FAQs

What is the study’s main goal regarding older adults and technology?

To explore how age-based stereotype threat relates to performance on an objective smartphone use task among older adults.

Which outcomes were compared between the control and experimental groups?

Performance on the smartphone task, time to complete the task, and anxiety.

What did the study find about differences across age groups?

No differences appeared across conditions for the smartphone task, time, or anxiety, but age groups differed on the smartphone task, with the 76+ group scoring lower than other groups.

Sep 29, 2026

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