Differences Between Employed and Retired Older Adults in Information and Communication Technology Use and Attitudes

Abstract

Older adults, 65 years and older, are a heterogeneous group in terms of their information and communication technology (ICT) use. Few studies, however, have examined how ICT use patterns may vary between employed older adults versus those who are no longer in the workforce. We expand research on this topic by examining whether variations in ICT use, as well as attitudes toward ICTs and online self-efficacy, exist between these 2 groups. Key outcomes include online self-efficacy, attitudes towards new technology, length of time online, average daily hours online, and number of ICTs used. Data were collected in 2017 through an online survey from a national sample of U.S. older adults (N = 1,142) matched with the demographic characteristics of the 2010 U.S. Census for individuals aged 65 and older based on age, race, sex, and education. Data were analyzed using OLS regression, binary logistic regression, and mediation analysis. Employed older adults, compared to retired older adults, had higher online self-efficacy, more positive attitudes towards new technology, spent more time online (years), and were more likely to use 2 or more ICTs. Being retired was associated with fewer years online, which was mediated by more negative attitudes toward technology and less online self-efficacy. Longitudinal research is needed which examines the types of technologies used in the workforce by older adults, the exposure to others’ uses of technologies, and how use changes over time—all of which may potentially affect older adults’ technology skills and attitudes.