Shaking Confidence in Technology: Effects of an Earthquake-Induced Nuclear Disaster on Technology Adoption in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

Abstract

Using the coincidental timing of a national survey conducted in Japan before and after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, this study reports a rare natural experiment that explored how the experience of a nuclear disaster influenced technology adoption in middle-aged and older adults. We conducted path analyses assessing how technology or nontechnology adoption intention and behavior changed before and after the nuclear disaster and whether age could moderate the potential change over and above other relevant factors. Our models supported that Japanese middle-aged to older adults reported fewer technology adoption behaviors after experiencing of the earthquake. However, the negative impact of the earthquake was not more pronounced in older adults. Our results suggest that researchers need to pay more attention to the issue of how loss of trust and/or perceived risk affect technology adoption interacting with other relevant factors, particularly, age-related factors and abilities.

Socially vulnerable populations adoption of technology to address lifestyle changes amid COVID-19 in the US

“…Socially vulnerable populations face evident digital divides, where access to and ability to use technology may be limited ( Scheerder et al, 2017 ; H. Yoon et al, 2020 ). For older adults, the reliance on technology and quick decisions that need to be made amid a disaster may be affected by digital illiteracy or common cognitive or physical barriers that come with age ( Gibson et al, 2013 ; McSweeney-Feld, 2017 ; J.-S. Yoon et al, 2021 ). Likewise, people with disabilities, that face cognitive, physical, or psychological barriers may find that needed technology is inaccessible due to limited accommodations ( Bennett, 2020 ).…”