Effects of Digital Literacy on Older Adults’ Intention to Use Digital Healthcare: A Serial Multiple Mediation Analysis of Technostress and Technology Self-Efficacy
- 1Department of Gerontology, AgeTech-Service Convergence Major, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Korea
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to examine the association between digital literacy and older adults’ intention to use digital healthcare services by testing the serial multiple mediating roles of technostress and technology self-efficacy.
Methods: Data were drawn from the 2024 Korean Older Adults Technology Acceptance Panel Survey conducted with 435 adults aged 65 and over. Participants completed validated measures of digital literacy, technostress, technology self-efficacy, and intention to use digital healthcare. Serial multiple mediation analysis was performed using PROCESS Model 6 with demographic controls.
Results: Digital literacy significantly reduced technostress and increased technology self-efficacy. A sequential mediating pathway was confirmed: higher digital literacy lowered technostress, which subsequently enhanced technology self-efficacy. Although digital literacy did not directly predict intention to use digital healthcare, a significant indirect effect was observed through technology self-efficacy, supporting the proposed serial multiple mediation model.
Conclusions: Digital literacy indirectly shapes older adults’ willingness to use digital healthcare by alleviating technostress and strengthening technology self-efficacy. These results highlight the importance of targeted digital literacy initiatives to promote meaningful digital health engagement among older adults, particularly in rapidly aging and digitalized societies.
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BibTeX
@article{lee2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Digital Literacy on Older Adults’ Intention to Use Digital Healthcare: A Serial Multiple Mediation Analysis of Technostress and Technology Self-Efficacy}},
author = {Jungwan Lee and Hyeri Shin and Yeomin Han and Donghyun Lee and Youngsun Kim},
journal = {Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1177/20552076261487930},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261487930},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Digital Literacy on Older Adults’ Intention to Use Digital Healthcare: A Serial Multiple Mediation Analysis of Technostress and Technology Self-Efficacy
AU - Jungwan Lee
AU - Hyeri Shin
AU - Yeomin Han
AU - Donghyun Lee
AU - Youngsun Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/16
JO - Digital Health
DO - 10.1177/20552076261487930
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/20552076261487930
AB - Objective: This study aims to examine the association between digital literacy and older adults’ intention to use digital healthcare services by testing the serial multiple mediating roles of technostress and technology self-efficacy. Methods: Data were drawn from the 2024 Korean Older Adults Technology Acceptance Panel Survey conducted with 435 adults aged 65 and over. Participants completed validated measures of digital literacy, technostress, technology self-efficacy, and intention to use digital healthcare. Serial multiple mediation analysis was performed using PROCESS Model 6 with demographic controls. Results: Digital literacy significantly reduced technostress and increased technology self-efficacy. A sequential mediating pathway was confirmed: higher digital literacy lowered technostress, which subsequently enhanced technology self-efficacy. Although digital literacy did not directly predict intention to use digital healthcare, a significant indirect effect was observed through technology self-efficacy, supporting the proposed serial multiple mediation model. Conclusions: Digital literacy indirectly shapes older adults’ willingness to use digital healthcare by alleviating technostress and strengthening technology self-efficacy. These results highlight the importance of targeted digital literacy initiatives to promote meaningful digital health engagement among older adults, particularly in rapidly aging and digitalized societies.
SN - 2055-2076
ER -