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Attitudes Towards and Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Among Older Adults in Italy and Sweden: the Influence of Cultural Context, Socio-Demographic Factors, and Time Perspective

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Abstract

This study examined determinants of attitudes towards and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in older adults, including variations in cultural context, socio-demographic factors (age, education, and gender) and the individual’s time perspective. Towards this end, 638 older adults in Italy (n = 262, M = 71.7 years) and Sweden (n = 376, M = 69.9 years) completed the Swedish Time Perspective Inventory (S-ZTPI), the Attitude toward Technologies Questionnaire (ATTQ), and questions regarding use of specific digital technologies (e.g. Internet, Skype, Facebook); data were collected in 2013–2014. The results showed more positive attitudes toward ICTs in Swedish compared with Italian elderly as well as more frequent use of technologies. Regardless of nationality, younger age and higher levels of educational attainment was positively associated with attitudes towards ICTs. Male gender was associated with higher ATTQ scores in the Italian, but not in the Swedish, sample. Time perspective accounted for significant variance beyond the foregoing variables. S-ZTPI Past Negative, Future Negative and Present Fatalistic in particular, were (negatively) related to ATTQ scores, with a similar pattern for ICT use. Future Positive and Present Hedonistic were positively associated with ATTQ scores, across the samples. In conclusion, between-person differences in time perspective organization are an important factor to account for variability in attitudes towards and use of ICTs in old age, and appears to exert an influence over and beyond other significant predictors, such as cultural context, age/cohort membership, and educational level.

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Funding

The Betula Study was supported by the Bank of Sweden Tercentenary Foundation [grant number 1988–0082:17; J2001–0682]; Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research (grant numbers D1988–0092, D1989–0115, D1990–0074, D1991–0258, D1992–0143, D1997–0756, D1997–1841,D1999–0739, B1999–474); Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences [grant number F377/1988–2000]; the Swedish Council for Social Research (grant numbers 1988–1990: 88–0082, 311/1991–2000); and the Swedish Research Council (grant numbers 345–2003-3883, 315–2004-6977). The present research was additionally funded by a grant to Michael Rönnlund and Maria Grazia Carelli by the Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences (grant numbers 421–2012-650 and 2015–02199).

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Manuela Zambianchi

  2. Department of Psychology, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden

    Michael Rönnlund & Maria Grazia Carelli

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  1. Manuela Zambianchi
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Zambianchi, M., Rönnlund, M. & Carelli, M.G. Attitudes Towards and Use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) Among Older Adults in Italy and Sweden: the Influence of Cultural Context, Socio-Demographic Factors, and Time Perspective. J Cross Cult Gerontol 34, 291–306 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10823-019-09370-y

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