Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41356045›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in psychology2025

Experiences of ageism and digital technology use among older adults.

Gabriele Gudynaite, Olga Zamalijeva, Vilmante Pakalniskiene, Goda Gegieckaite

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in psychology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
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.

Gabriele GudynaiteInstitute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Olga ZamalijevaInstitute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Vilmante PakalniskieneInstitute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Goda GegieckaiteInstitute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Digital inclusion offers many opportunities to support well-being. However, the digital divide among older adults remains a significant barrier. While various technology-related factors have been identified, the impact of ageism on older adults' use of digital technologies remains under-researched. This study aimed to analyze how older adults' experiences of ageism relate to their use of digital technologies. It focused on internalized and relational ageism and explored confident and hesitant users' experiences of ageism in relation to digital technology use. Methods: The study employed a qualitative research strategy using focus group discussions. Thirteen older adults (4 males, 9 females), aged 65-82, participated in the study. Two focus group discussions were organized: the first consisted mostly of confident digital technology users (6 participants), and the second of mostly hesitant users (7 participants). Thematic analysis was employed, and the data were analyzed using ATLAS.ti (version 8). Results: Internalized and relational ageism experiences were related to participants' use of digital technologies. The potential multifaceted influence of internalized ageism on digital technology use was observed. Participants reported both subtle and overt forms of relational ageism, which related to their digital engagement in similarly negative ways. A potential interaction between relational and internalized ageism regarding participants' use of digital technologies was observed. Confident and hesitant users differed in their experiences and responses to ageism. Confident users described social interactions as helping them resist ageist views, while hesitant users recalled interactions that reinforced stereotypes. Unexpectedly, a possible paradoxical impact of experiences of ageism was observed: for confident participants, it motivated digital technology use, whereas for hesitant users, it hindered it. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that ageism shapes older adults' experiences with digital technologies and should be considered in future research on the digital divide. Further studies should replicate findings in other socio-cultural contexts, explore individual differences that explain why some older adults may be resilient to ageism while others more vulnerable. Additionally, research should continue to explore the broader impact of ageism across different areas of older adults' lives.

Indexed as

ageismdigital dividedigital technologyfocus groupsinternalized ageismolder adultsqualitative researchrelational ageism

Identifiers

PMID41356045
PMCPMC12679384

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.