Understanding Elderly Adoption of Smart Care Applications in China: An Extended UTAUT Model with Attitude as Mediator

Abstract

China faces significant challenges in elderly care with its rapidly aging population and evolving family structures. Smart elderly care applications offer potential solutions, yet their adoption remains low. This study extends the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) by incorporating attitude as a mediator and technology anxiety as a direct predictor of intention to use smart elderly care applications. Data collected from 375 Chinese adults aged 60 and above were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Results reveal that attitude strongly predicts intention to use (β=0.78, p<0.01), while technology anxiety shows no significant effect. Performance expectancy ( β=0.246, p<0.01), social influence ( β=0.225, p<0.01), and facilitating conditions ( β=0.076, p=0.01) positively influence attitude, but effort expectancy has no significant impact. The model explains 61.1% of the variance in intention to use, demonstrating its robustness. These findings suggest that developers should focus on enhancing the practical benefits of smart elderly care applications and leveraging social influence to foster positive attitudes, rather than overly emphasizing ease of use or addressing technology anxiety. This study contributes to technology acceptance literature by validating an extended UTAUT model specifically for elderly users in China's unique cultural and social context.