| Abstract: |
Background: In a constantly changing world, information and communications technology (ICT) are no exception. While older adults have been described to be slower to adopt ICT than younger adults (Czaja et al., 2006), literature seems to converge to a consensus regarding the positive benefits of the latter on older adults. The use of ICT allows individual to be more connected to other people, to improve their sense of self-efficacy, self-esteem, and feelings of well-being (Kim, 2008; Pihlainen et al., 2021; Yang et al., 2022; Zhao et al., 2022). It therefore seems essential that older adults have access to and use ICT if they are to enjoy its benefits. However, the literature shows that, although present in their environment, older adults do not necessarily use ICT. The aim of this research is therefore to identify the psychological barriers and facilitators to the use of ICT by older adults. Method: The sample consisted of 13 older adults (7 men & 6 women, Mage=68,7 years; SD=6,5) recruited in public organization (i.e., association, public digital space). The inclusion criterion was to be aged 60 and older. Semi-structured interviews were administrated, and a qualitative content analysis was performed using the recommendations of Braun and Clarke (2006) with the software Nvivo 12-QSR International. An extra questionnaire was introduced to assess quantitatively their perceived competence in using different ICT (i.e., computer, phone, tablet, office tools, administrative procedures) on a 5-point Likert scale. Results: The analyses revealed 4 categories related to (1) Perception of self-efficacy; (2) Perception of self-resources; (3) ICT; and (4) Individual traits. Each of these categories includes both facilitating and hindering factors in the use of ICT. Thus, the most important facilitators are perceived benefits offered by ICT (n=77; n=number of occurrences), resources and availability (n=66), having help and support (n=65), and individual characteristics (n=61). Difficulties limit use (n=88), social obligation (n=52), and voluntary refusal (n=36) emerged as barriers. For the extra questionnaire, mean for perceived competence for ICT were 2,85, 1,08, 2,00, 2,38, and 2,46 respectively. Conclusions: This study identified both barriers and facilitators associated with the use of ICT by older adults. Identifying them can help organizations and communities to design and develop training session that meets the needs, expectations, and specificities of this population. Specifically, these results could be translated into a practical action. The objectives of these actions would be to work on the representations that young people, adults and older adults have of ICT. This would reduce the identified barriers by building on the identified facilitators to increase the motivation of older people to use ICT. Finally, as Feng and collaborators (2020) suggests, the use of ICTs by older people will enable them to claim the benefits associated with them and thus reduce social isolation, a key factor in ageing well. |