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Background: Chronic stress responses can lead to physical and behavioural health problems, often experienced and observed in the care of people with intellectual disabilities or people with dementia. Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a bio-signal for stress, which can be measured by wearables and thereby support stress management. However, the how, when and to what extent patients and healthcare providers can benefit is unclear. This study aims to create an overview of available wearables enabling the detection of perceived stress by using EDA. Methods: Following the PRISMA-SCR protocol for scoping reviews, four databases were included in the search of peer-reviewed studies published between 2012 and 2022, reporting detection of EDA in relation to self-reported stress or stress-related behaviours. Type of wearable, bodily location, research population, context, stressor type and the reported relationship between EDA and perceived stress were extracted. Results: Of the 74 included studies, the majority included healthy subjects in laboratory situations. Field studies and studies using machine learning (ML) to predict stress have increased in the last years. EDA is most often measured on the wrist, with offline data processing. Studies predicting perceived stress or stress-related behaviour using EDA features, reported accuracies between 42% and 100% with an average of 82.6%. Of these studies, the majority used ML. Conclusion: Wearable EDA sensors are promising in detecting perceived stress. Field studies with relevant populations in a health or care context are lacking. Future studies should focus on the application of EDA-measuring wearables in real-life situations to support stress management.

Technology acceptance models associate older age with lower intention to use digital technology although this assumption is often stereotypically-based and not sufficiently tested with older persons. This study investigated the association of ageism (rather than chronological age) with behavioral intention and actual use of technology within the theoretical framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-2) model. 374 Dutch-speaking participants aged 50–97 completed the UTAUT-2 questionnaire, Expectations Regarding Aging, Attitudes Toward Older Adults Using Technology (ATOAUT-11) and experienced ageism scales. A path analysis found that expectations regarding aging partially mediated the association of age with negative attitudes. Mixed results were found regarding the fit of the new UTAUT-2-Ageism model. Negative ATOAUT moderated the associations of Effort Expectancy, Facilitating Conditions, and Habit with Behavioral Intention to use technology, and the explained variance increased. Further research is warranted to fully identify the potential role of ageism in technology acceptance.

Background and research objectives: Technological innovation is often described as a solution for or considered to have the potential of meeting the challenges of the ageing society, improving older persons' quality of life, well-being, and healthcare, and supporting ageing in place in a safe and independent environment. At the same time, older persons often experience ageism, defined as stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, in the context of digital technology. Such stereotypes are omnipresent in various contexts (e.g., workforce, healthcare, and media) and can hinder active and successful ageing in a highly digitalizing reality. The main goal of this dissertation is to understand what are the manifestations of ageism in the context of digital technology and the potential role of ageism as an underlying factor that may affect the design, acceptance, and use of digital technology. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized to initiate and present a coherent and holistic outcome intending to discover paradoxes, contradictions, and new perspectives on the design, acceptance, and use of digital technology. Six studies were conducted, triangulating data from 1) different methodologies, 2) various stakeholders' perspectives (older persons, designers, researchers, and healthcare professionals) 3) and different contexts of use and design of digital technology. Main results: The triangulation of this dissertation's qualitative and quantitative findings are synthesized in a theoretical model of Ageism in the Use and Design of Digital Technology (see figure). Manifestations of ageism in the use and design of digital technology are identified throughout the different dimensions of ageism: (1) Social-psychological level of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination, (2) Negative-positive valance, (3) Explicit-implicit representations, (4) and three levels of individual-micro level (self-ageism), a social-organizational meso level of inter-generational interaction, and policy and design macro level. Importantly, ageism may influence the acceptance and use of digital technology in a dynamic and iterative process of interaction between different levels and interchanging between individuals, design processes, and technological devices and services. Recommendations for future research and policy: Ageism in the use and design of digital technology is a developing field for future research, entrepreneurship, and policy. The main recommendations are to: 1.Develop interventions to mitigate self-ageism, empower older persons, and reduce ageism in the design process of digital technology and intergenerational tension. 2.Raise awareness and training to change the discourse on ageing and technology. 3.Promote inclusion and aim for partnership and meaningful involvement of older persons throughout the development of digital technology-related products, services, and policy. 4.Design digital technologies for versatile social, leisure, and communication needs. 5.Develop methodological innovations to measure the influence of ageism on the use and design of digital technology. In particular concerning discrimination; intersectionality of digital technology, ageism, and other characteristics; and the use of data and artificial intelligence (AI). 6.Ensure access to digital technology to eliminate the access divide influenced by age, education, and other characteristics.

Background and Objectives Both rapid technological changes and (self-)ageism are pervasive challenges of the 21st century, potentially affecting older adults’ everyday functioning, health, and well-being. This systematic literature review aimed to synthesize scholarly evidence to determine the associations between everyday information and communication technology (EICT) usage and (self-)ageism as well as potential moderators. Research Design and Methods A systematic search was performed in 8 academic databases, covering the time frame from January 1995 to January 2021. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, a total of 15 articles met the inclusion criteria and were involved in the analysis. The standardized National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s quality assessment tools were used for risk bias. Results Several studies demonstrated significant associations between EICT usage and stereotype embodiment (n = 8), stereotype threat (n = 2), and age discrimination (n = 3). Age (group), gender, and motivation were examined as potential moderators. Discussion and Implications This review provides initial evidence on the associations between (self-)ageism and EICT usage. It highlights the importance of positive subjective aging perceptions for active EICT usage in older adults, but also emphasizes the detrimental consequences of ageism in EICT learning settings and technology design on older persons’ willingness and ability to use EICT. Further ecologically valid and methodologically sound research is needed to better understand both the nature and direction of the association between EICT usage and (self-)ageism.

AimThere is often a gap between the ideal of involving older persons iteratively throughout the design process of digital technology, and actual practice. Until now, the lens of ageism has not been applied to address this gap. The goals of this study were: to voice the perspectives and experiences of older persons who participated in co-designing regarding the design process; their perceived role in co-designing and intergenerational interaction with the designers; and apparent manifestations of ageism that potentially influence the design of digital technology.MethodsTwenty-one older persons participated in three focus groups. Five themes were identified using thematic analysis which combined a critical ageism ‘lens’ deductive approach and an inductive approach.ResultsAgeism was experienced by participants in their daily lives and interactions with the designers during the design process. Negative images of ageing were pointed out as a potential influencing factor on design decisions. Nevertheless, positive experiences of inclusive design pointed out the importance of “partnership” in the design process. Participants defined the “ultimate partnership” in co-designing as processes in which they were involved from the beginning, iteratively, in a participatory approach. Such processes were perceived as leading to successful design outcomes, which they would like to use, and reduced intergenerational tension.ConclusionsThis study highlights the potential role of ageism as a detrimental factor in how digital technologies are designed. Viewing older persons as partners in co-designing and aspiring to more inclusive design processes may promote designing technologies that are needed, wanted and used.

BACKGROUND Digital technologies (DTs) for older adults focus mainly on health care and are considered to have the potential to improve the well-being of older adults. However, adoption rates of these DTs are considered low. Although previous research has investigated possible reasons for adoption and acceptance of DT, age-based stereotypes (eg, those held by health care professionals) toward the abilities of older adults to use DTs have yet to be considered as possible barriers to adoption. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the influencing role of ageism in the context of health care professionals attitudes toward older adults’ abilities to use health care DT. A further goal was to examine if social comparison and stereotype activation affect and moderate this association. METHODS A new measurement to assess health care professionals’ attitudes toward older adults using technology (ATOAUT-10) was developed and used in 2 studies. Study 1 involved the development of the ATOAUT-10 scale using a principal component analysis and further examined health care professionals’ attitudes toward the use of health care DTs and correlations with ageism. Study 2 further explored the correlation between ageism and ATOAUT in an experimental design with health care professionals. RESULTS In study 1, physiotherapists (N=97) rated older adults as young as 50 years as less able to use health care DT compared to younger adults (Pt=3.73; PR2=0.19; F6,85=3.35; P=.005), such that higher levels of ageism correlated with more negative ATOAUT in the old age salient condition, but not the young condition. Stereotype activation accounted for health care professionals’ attitudes more than did the experience of working with older patients or the professionals’ age. CONCLUSIONS Negative and ageist attitudes of health care professionals can potentially affect how older adults are viewed in relation to DT and consequently might influence actual use and adoption of technology-based treatment. Future studies should broaden the validation of the ATOAUT-10 scale on more diverse samples and focus on the discriminatory aspect of ageism and self-ageism of older adults. This study calls for a focus on ageism as a determinant of adoption of DT.

Digital technology holds a promise to improve older adults’ well-being and promote ageing in place. However, there seems to be a discrepancy between digital technologies that are developed and what older adults actually want and need. Ageing is stereotypically framed as a problem needed to be fixed, and older adults are considered to be frail and incompetent. Not surprisingly, many of the technologies developed for the use of older adults focus on care. The exclusion of older adults from the research and design of digital technology is often based on such negative stereotypes. In this opinion article, we argue that the inclusion rather than exclusion of older adults in the design process and research of digital technology is essential if technology is to fulfill the promise of improving well-being. We emphasize why this is important while also providing guidelines, evidence from the literature, and examples on how to do so. We unequivocally state that designers and researchers should make every effort to ensure the involvement of older adults in the design process and research of digital technology. Based on this paper, we suggest that ageism in the design process of digital technology might play a role as a possible barrier of adopting technology., peer-reviewed

Group-based emotions play an important role in helping people feel that they belong to their group. People are motivated to belong, but does this mean that they actively try to experience group-based emotions to increase their sense of belonging? In this investigation, we propose that people may be motivated to experience even group-based emotions that are typically considered unpleasant to satisfy their need to belong. To test this hypothesis, we examined people's preferences for group-based sadness in the context of the Israeli National Memorial Day. In two correlational (Studies 1a and 1b) and two experimental (Studies 2 and 3) studies, we demonstrate that people with a stronger need to belong have a stronger preference to experience group-based sadness. This effect was mediated by the expectation that experiencing sadness would be socially beneficial (Studies 1 and 2). We discuss the implications of our findings for understanding motivated emotion regulation and intergroup relations.

MENSAJES CLAVE: Edadismo es una barrera clave que afecta al diseño, la adopción y el uso de la tecnología digital. En el contexto de la tecnología digital, edadismo se produce a nivel macro (diseño y política), meso (entorno social y organizativo) y micro (individuo). Estos tres niveles interactúan y se influyen mutuamente. Es necesario un cambio de paradigma en la comprensión sobre qué tecnología digital quieren y necesitan las personas mayores, cuál es su capacidad para utilizar la tecnología digital y, cómo se incluye a las personas mayores y se les da "voz" en el proceso de diseño y en las polticas relacionadas con la tecnología digital. Para mejorar la alfabetización digital y aumentar el uso y la adopción de la tecnología digital entre las personas mayores, las intervenciones políticas deben centrarse en eliminar estereotipos, prejuicios y discriminaciones basadas en la edad, y no concentrarse en el envejecimiento como una barrera para el uso y adopción de la tecnología digital.

In a rapidly digitalizing society, equal opportunities to access and use digital technology are essential for social inclusion and participation. Older people are however often highly stereotyped regarding their abilities to use and learn how to use digital technology. This policy brief emphasizes the idea that ageism can be a barrier to the use and adoption of digital technology, and suggests recommendations to address this burning issue. Key messages Ageism is a key barrier that affects design, adoption and use of digital technology. Ageism in the context of digital technology occurs on the macro (design & policy)-, meso (social and organizational environment)- and micro (individual)- level. These three levels also interact and influence each other. A paradigm shift is needed in our understanding of: What digital technologies older persons want and need; older individuals’ abilities to use digital technology; and how older persons are included and have a “say” in the design process of digital technology and related policies. In order to improve digital literacy and increase use and adoption of digital technology among older persons, policy interventions need to focus on eliminating stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination based on age, rather than accepting ageing per se as a barrier to the use and adoption of digital technology.

Presentation in the International Society of Gerontechnology conference, Trondheim Norway