Smartphone use, intergenerational support and older adults’ wellbeing

This study takes the Danish retired older adults as the research object, investigating the interrelations among smartphone use, intergenerational support and older adults’ eudaimonic wellbeing through quantitative and qualitative methods. The technology acceptance model (TAM) and semi-structured in-depth interviews were employed to evaluate whether the proposed hypotheses were confirmed. The results revealed that the use of smartphones as an information technology device had an impact on the path from the attitude toward use to actual smartphone use. Also, they had a positive effect on older adults’ eudaimonic wellbeing. The findings demonstrated that the design and use of smartphones are in line with the physiological characteristics of older adults, and calls on them to use smartphones healthily. This study also confirmed that the physical needs and emotional needs of intergenerational support from children can positively promote older adults’ wellbeing, even though in individualistic cultures, where intergenerational support perhaps matters less.