Experiences of Ageism in mHealth App Usage Among Older Adults: Interview Study Among Older Adults Based on Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Risks of Ageism Models.

Jiayi Sun, Yawen Liu, Chengrui Zhang, Ying Xing, Wanqiong Zhou, Wei Luan

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Article in JMIR aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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2citing papers in PubMed

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1 · What the graph read from it

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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.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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2 citing papers in PubMed.

AI-Enabled Digital Health Promotion and Prevention: Computational Literature Review.JMIR AI · 2026
Review
Intergenerational Support and Social Networks as Associated Factors of Late-Life Depression: Unpacking the Mediating Underlying Pathways of Aging Attitudes.Psychology research and behavior management · 2026
Article

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5 · Who and what money

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6 authors.

Jiayi Sun *Shuguang Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-9784-7602

Yawen Liu *Shuguang Clinical Medical College, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0003-4835-3163

Chengrui ZhangNursing Department, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China, 86 021-20256016.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0624-2655

Ying XingShanghai Jiao Tong University School of Nursing, Shanghai, China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3024-3627

Wanqiong ZhouNursing Department, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China, 86 021-20256016.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8774-033X

Wei LuanNursing Department, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of TCM, No. 528, Zhangheng Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China, 86 021-20256016.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7439-9005

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: As the global aging population accelerates, mobile health (mHealth) apps have emerged as critical tools in the health management of older people. However, the promotion of mHealth apps has faced multiple obstacles, including insufficient technological adaptation to aging, digital resistance, and ageism. The impact of ageism on technology usage experiences among older adults is influenced by mechanisms such as stereotypes and biases. Notably, extant research has not adequately explored the subjective experiences of older adults in the context of mHealth app usage scenarios. objectives: The present study was predicated on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model and the risks of ageism model to systematically explore and understand older adults' ageism experiences in mHealth app usage. Our objectives were to provide a reference for optimizing age-friendly design and enhancing digital health management capabilities for older adults. Methods: This qualitative study utilized an interpretive phenomenological design and was conducted between February and April 2025. Purposive sampling was employed to select older adults with experience using mHealth apps in a Shanghai community for semistructured interviews. This study used Colaizzi's phenomenological method to analyze and summarize older adults' experiences and perceptions of ageism and to extract themes. Results: The study identified 3 core themes: (1) internalized age stereotypes, which manifest as technological uselessness and learning barriers; (2) anxiety and avoidance behaviors caused by stereotype threat; and (3) external unfair treatment (such as age-friendly design flaws and inadequate support systems), which inhibits usage. These experiences significantly impact older adults' intention to use mHealth apps. Conclusions: Ageism profoundly affects the engagement of older adults with mHealth apps. It is advisable to execute systematic interventions to improve digital inclusion and health self-management capabilities, including strategies to challenge age stereotypes, optimize intergenerational support, refine age-friendly design, and establish strong social support networks.

Indexed as

AgeismMobile ApplicationsPatient Acceptance of Health CareTelemedicineAgedAged, 80 and overChinaDigital HealthFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative Researchageismhealthy agingmHealth appsolder adultstechnology use

Identifiers

PMID41500194

DOI10.2196/79457

PMCPMC12779297

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