New challenges for smartphone apps among Chinese urban older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic

Sun, Yaguang

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/115350 Copy

Description

Title

New challenges for smartphone apps among Chinese urban older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic

Author(s)

Sun, Yaguang

Issue Date

2022-03-22

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

• Ruecker, Stanley
• McDonagh, Deana

Doctoral Committee Chair(s)

• Ruecker, Stanley
• McDonagh, Deana

Committee Member(s)

• Rogers, Wendy
• Chin, Jessie

Department of Study

Illinois Informatics Institute

Discipline

Informatics

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Level

Dissertation

Keyword(s)

• Health behavior
• Positive technology
• Pandemic-related apps
• Behavioral intention
• Well-being.

Abstract

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our lifestyle has undergone a thorough change. We had to isolate themselves, and the traditional lifestyle was replaced by network remote technology and mobile technology. Due to various reasons, older persons have different degrees of barriers to the use of apps. Whether they understand the pandemic-related apps, what kind of psychological impact it will have on the use of apps, and what role relatives and other social relations have played in the use of the app for older persons, we do not know, and the pandemic has also brought new challenges to this obstacle. Therefore, this research aimed to study the app experience and challenges faced by Chinese older person users in the context of the pandemic situation through the following questions: 1) How does the pandemic affect older persons in China? 2) What do older persons know and how do they use the pandemic-related apps during and after the lockdown? 3) From the perspective of Chinese older person users, what are the challenges when facing uncertainties about the use of pandemic-related apps? To test these problems, we adopt a series of different empirical methods, including qualitative research and quantitative research. In this research, mixed methods were used to collect and analyze data. Firstly, we conducted an online survey on the older persons over 60 years old and the population over 45 years old in China through the questionnaire star (wjx.cn) online survey platform to evaluate the background information of the population, the impact of the pandemic on the personal life and the satisfaction with the use of apps. The survey data were analyzed by the linear regression model. Secondly, we recruited 26 Chinese 50 to 70-year-olds for telephone interviews to further understand the psychological demands and use demands of middle-aged and older persons for apps during the pandemic. We used storytelling to get the app usage experience and attitude of participants. The results showed that during the pandemic, the psychological state and behavioral intention of older persons were more likely to change, followed by changes in personal social circle and daily life. For the use of apps related to the pandemic, the older persons did report barriers to use, which was related to their personal learning ability, physical conditions, and basic knowledge. Compared with other age groups, information monitoring app will not cause older persons’ excessive concern. On the other hand, the 'electronization' of daily life brought about by the pandemic will cause concerns and barriers to the older persons, who reportedly preferred traditional lifestyle. In terms of access to electronic products and apps, older persons preferred to believe in the publicity of the government and followed the guidance of the social environment. However, the recommendation of relatives and friends was not their main access. As for the service quality of apps, few practitioners considered the limitations of the older persons, which requires more people and institutions to care about the difficult situation of the older persons in electronic life. These limitations not only come from the physical problems of the older persons, but also the living habits and the decline of learning ability over the years, and the distrust caused by the design beyond the cognitive scope of older persons (financial services, shopping, etc.). My thesis research contributed to the application of technology for older persons in several ways. First, this is the first empirical research examining Chinese older users' behavioral intention and psychological and emotional changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this thesis includes the very first empirical study that the understanding of apps by Chinese older persons during the pandemic and how it has changed their lives. This thesis also explores the background of special technical problems of the older persons in China and uncertainties encountered in the R & D process. As the aging population continues to grow and advances in technologies progress rapidly, the design of pandemic-related apps have to adopt the user-centered approach, which consider end-users' needs and shortcomings of all age groups. In addition, when designing and developing related products, we should clarify the most urgent practical and psychological demands of the older users and whether personal needs will be affected by the unpredictable circumstances. Moreover, personal experience and awareness are key factors in older users’ pandemic-related apps practices. Therefore, the background understanding, and the analysis of user needs are very important in app design.

Graduation Semester

2022-05

Type of Resource

Thesis

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 Yaguang Sun

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