Does online informal social capital enhance healthcare technology adoption among older adults? The mediating role of attitudes

Abstract

Healthcare technology adoption is critical for older adults to enhance healthcare access and autonomy. Limited research has examined the effect of social capital on healthcare technology adoption among older adults. Adopting the technology acceptance model and social capital theory, this study investigated the effect of online informal social capital on the mediating role of positive and negative attitudes between perceived usefulness and healthcare technology adoption. Five hundred ninety-seven participants were recruited to complete a personal communication regarding healthcare technology adoption. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used, and the results showed that positive and negative attitudes were significant full mediators. This study has enriched the two theories and provided practical implications for the social work practice, the healthcare field, and healthcare technology developers to address online informal social capital and attitudes in developing healthcare technology for older adults.