ArticleInnovation in aging2026
Smartphones as a gateway to independence and adaptation: older Mandarin-speaking immigrants' use of smartphones for everyday living.
Article in Innovation in aging, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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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.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background and Objectives: The growing integration of digital technologies into everyday life has reshaped how older adults engage with their social environments, access information, and navigate health and community services. Yet, limited research has examined these dynamics among Mandarin-speaking older immigrants in Canada, a rapidly expanding population facing intersecting challenges of ageing, migration, and linguistic adaptation. Drawing on qualitative data from the national Inclusive Communities for Older Immigrants project, this study explores how Mandarin-speaking older immigrants use smartphones in their daily lives and how these technologies contribute to adaptation, independence, and well-being. Research Design and Methods: Data were obtained from 102 participants living in 7 cities across 4 provinces in Canada. The data were deductively and inductively coded with NVivo 15© and analyzed thematically. Results: Findings reveal 3 interconnected domains of smartphone use in support of daily living: (a) access to community resources, healthcare, home, and community safety; (b) play and leisure, including digital gaming, music, and online reading; (c) empowerment, navigating unfamiliar environments, enhanced autonomy, and reduced dependence on family members. Despite these benefits, participants reported persistent barriers to smartphone use, including linguistic inaccessibility, inconsistent translation services, and fears of digital dependence. Discussion and Implications: The study highlights the dual role of smartphones as both facilitators and barriers to digital inclusion, underscoring the need for culturally and linguistically responsive digital supports to promote equitable digital technological participation among Mandarin-speaking older immigrants in Canada.
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