Digital Technology Attitude and Life Satisfaction: Mediating through Digital Information Utilization and Social Capital among Middle-aged and Older Adults

Abstract

Purpose: The scope of digital technology utilization is expanding gradually and significantly impacting our lives (Cotten et al., 2012; Lee et al., 2015; Oh & Yoo, 2018). However, the middle-aged and elderly population are considered a representative group of digital vulnerable groups (Kiel, 2005), and concerns have been raised about experiencing inequality in various areas of life. This study aims to examine how attitudes toward digital technology among the middle-aged and elderly influence life satisfaction through the mediation of digital information utilization and to verify the moderated mediating effect of social capital in this relationship. Method: The analysis utilized elderly data from the 2022 Digital Divide Survey conducted by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning and the Korea Information Society Development Institute. The study targeted 2,300 middle-aged and elderly individuals aged 55 and above. To verify the moderated mediating effect, SPSS 23.0 and the Process Macro were employed. Results and Discussion: The analysis results are as follows: Firstly, a partial mediating effect of digital information utilization was observed in the relationship between the attitudes toward digital technology and life satisfaction among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Secondly, the moderating effect of social capital was found to be significant in the relationship between the attitudes toward digital technology and digital information utilization among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Thirdly, it was verified that the social capital of middle-aged and elderly individuals moderates the indirect effect of attitudes toward digital technology on life satisfaction through digital information utilization. Based on the results, the conclusions and recommendations are as follows: Firstly, educational programs should be provided to improve the perception and attitudes toward digital technology among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Secondly, tailored programs considering the levels of middle-aged and elderly individuals should be offered, and diverse contents should be developed to enhance the level of digital information utilization. Thirdly, there should be an expansion of service providers, such as digital assistants. Particularly, it is necessary to actively consider methods for expanding social capital, such as the expansion of the elderly-to-elderly information education model and providing information education through intergenerational solidarity.