Older adults and information and communication technologies: a qualitative interview study on basic psychological needs

Abstract

In this study, we investigated older adults’ experiences and views of using information and communication technology (ICT) from the perspective of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. We collected data from thematic interviews with Finnish older adults aged 57–96 (N = 19). We analyzed the data using theory-driven content analy­sis, for which self-determination theory provided a theoretical framework and guided the analysis. Our analysis revealed various uses of technolo­gies and several ways that older adults’ experiences and views of using ICT reflected the experiences of the basic psychological needs. The results suggest that the basic psychological needs can guide what kind of tech­nology is adopted or not adopted, how, and why. Furthermore, use of ICT can enable and hinder the meeting of the basic psychological needs. The results underline the fact that future ICT should be developed in a way that respects the basic psychological needs.