The Involuntary Experience of Digital Exclusion Among Older Adults: A Taxonomy and Theoretical Framework.

The emerging phenomenon of digital exclusion raises an important issue that not everyone is equally engaged in and can benefit from the digital world. Older adults are particularly susceptible to digital exclusion, but a comprehensive conceptual treatment of digital exclusion in older adults is lack...

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Publicado en:American Psychologist Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 360 - 374
Autores principales: Fang, Yanran, Shao, Yiduo, Wang, Mo
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Psychological Association Apr2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Apr2026
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        atl: The Involuntary Experience of Digital Exclusion Among Older Adults: A Taxonomy and Theoretical Framework.
      aug:
        au:
          Fang, Yanran
          Shao, Yiduo
          Wang, Mo
        affil:
          School of Management, Zhejiang University
          Department of Management and Entrepreneurship, University of Iowa
          Department of Management, Warrington College of Business, University of Florida
      su:
        Internet access
        Intellect
        Community support
        Computers
        Health
        Affinity groups
        Socioeconomic factors
        Loneliness
        Information resources
        Mentoring
        Motivation (Psychology)
        Labor market
        Intersectionality
        Social integration
        Aging
        Computer literacy
        Information literacy
        Quality of life
        Social support
        Family support
        Social isolation
        Access to information
        Cognition
        Mental depression
        Information-seeking behavior
        Old age
        Mortality risk factors
        Digital technology
        Mobile apps
        Data security
        Smartphones
        Digital divide
        Cognitive processing speed
        Classification
        Conceptual structures
        Internet service providers
        Cognitive aging
      sug:
        subj:
          Internet access
          Intellect
          Community support
          Computers
          Health
          Affinity groups
          Socioeconomic factors
          Loneliness
          Information resources
          Mentoring
          Motivation (Psychology)
          Labor market
          Intersectionality
          Social integration
          Aging
          Computer literacy
          Information literacy
          Quality of life
          Social support
          Family support
          Social isolation
          Access to information
          Cognition
          Mental depression
          Information-seeking behavior
          Old age
          Computer and software stores
          Electronics Stores
          Computer and Computer Peripheral Equipment and Software Merchant Wholesalers
          Computer, computer peripheral and pre-packaged software merchant wholesalers
          Computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing
          Electronic Computer Manufacturing
          All Other Telecommunications
          Other telecommunications
          Wired Telecommunications Carriers
          Other Individual and Family Services
          Computer systems design and related services (except video game design and development)
          Other Computer Related Services
          Mortality risk factors
          Digital technology
          Mobile apps
          Data security
          Smartphones
          Digital divide
          Cognitive processing speed
          Classification
          Conceptual structures
          Internet service providers
          Cognitive aging
      keyword:
        digital exclusion
        information isolation
        older adults
        social isolation
        technology deficit
        digital exclusion
        information isolation
        older adults
        social isolation
        technology deficit
      ab: The emerging phenomenon of digital exclusion raises an important issue that not everyone is equally engaged in and can benefit from the digital world. Older adults are particularly susceptible to digital exclusion, but a comprehensive conceptual treatment of digital exclusion in older adults is lacking in the psychology literature. In this article, we provide a taxonomy to advance the literature on digital exclusion in older adults, identifying key conceptual attributes of older adults' digital exclusion experiences by articulating both structural (i.e., technology deficit) and psychological (i.e., social and information isolation) challenges that they face. On the basis of this taxonomy, we integrate insights from lifespan development theories to develop a theoretical model that considers the antecedents of digital exclusion among older adults at micro, meso, and macrolevels and outlines the potential consequences for successful aging in life and work domains. We also suggest directions for future research, aiming to address issues of digital exclusions among older adults and promote digital equality in societies. Public Significance Statement: This research develops a taxonomy and a theoretical framework to understand why older adults are increasingly at risk of digital exclusion and being left behind in a digital world. We delineate what digital exclusion means for older adults, why they are particularly susceptible to it, and how it may impact their successful aging. Our framework also suggests potential ways to prevent and mitigate older adults' involuntary experience of digital exclusion.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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