Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34794716›Full record

ArticleJournal of aging studies2021

"But at the age of 85? Forget it!": Internalized ageism, a barrier to technology use.

Hanna Köttl, Vera Gallistl, Rebekka Rohner, Liat Ayalon

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of aging studies, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed.

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  19. Case Reports in the Integration of Technology with Cognitive Rehabilitation for Individuals with Memory Concerns and Their Care Partners.Archives of clinical neuropsychology : the official journal of the National Academy of Neuropsychologists · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Hanna KöttlFaculty of Social Sciences, Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat Gan, Israel. Electronic address: kottl.hanna@biu.ac.il.
Vera GallistlDepartment of Sociology, University of Vienna, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1090 Wien, Austria. Electronic address: vera.maria.gallistl@univie.ac.at.
Rebekka RohnerDepartment of Sociology, University of Vienna, Rooseveltplatz 2, 1090 Wien, Austria. Electronic address: rebekka.rohner@univie.ac.at.
Liat AyalonFaculty of Social Sciences, Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, 52900 Ramat Gan, Israel. Electronic address: liat.ayalon@biu.ac.il.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored how everyday information and communication technology (EICT), such as online banking, e-shopping, or e-mail, are essential for individuals of all ages to maintain activity engagement, health, and well-being. Yet, older adults are often stereotypically portrayed as incapable, technophobic, or unwilling to engage in EICT. This may further contribute to the digital divide, as age stereotypes have the power to act like self-fulfilling prophecies and impede older adults' engagement in complex everyday life tasks. This study aimed to shed light on internalized ageism as manifested in older non-users' narrations about EICT use. It further explored how age stereotypes in the context of EICT are constructed and perpetuated through disempowering and ageist environments. A qualitative approach was applied, performing semi-structured interviews in participants' homes (N = 15). Data were analyzed following the principles of qualitative content analysis, applying both deductive categorization and inductive coding. Internalized ageism appeared to be an omnipresent element in older adults' narrations about EICT non-use. This was reflected in the four subcategories "competence and learning", "relevance and use", "technology design", and "intergenerational contact". Ageism, as manifested in the social environment and the design of technology, seemingly contributed to the internalization of age stereotypes and low EICT engagement. This research calls for inclusive technology designs, ageism-free EICT learning settings, and awareness campaigns about lifelong learning to help close the digital divide and ensure optimal aging experiences for older people.

Indexed as

AgeismCOVID-19AgedAgingHumansPandemicsSARS-CoV-2StereotypingTechnologyAgeismDigital divideSelf-perceptions of agingSelf-stereotypingStereotype threatTechnology

Identifiers

PMID34794716
PMCPMC9757993

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.