Abstract

Mobile health (m-health) technologies empower individuals to manage their personal health. Whilst older citizens can benefit greatly from m-health, it remains the case that younger individuals are more likely to use these technologies. However, the factors that drive and inhibit m-health adoption across different age groups remain relatively unexplored. By understanding what drives adoption among different age groups, efforts can be made to meet their needs and increase adoption by all. This study tests whether the predictors of adoption in the technology adoption literature can be extended to the m-health context and whether age serves as a moderator. Our findings suggest that while the extant technology adoption predictors offer insights into adoption decisions, additional constructs would enable a more comprehensive understanding of m-health adoption. The moderating role of age is also supported. Younger individuals are influenced by their expectation of m-health performance, while older individuals are influenced by their perceived ability to use these technologies. M-health technologies should therefore be marketed differently for these age groups and designed to suit their differing needs. This paper highlights the need to educate older citizens to ensure they can take advantage of the benefits offered by m-health and avoid a widening digital divide.

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