Date of Conferral
5-30-2025
Date of Award
May 2025
Degree
Ph.D.
School
Management
Advisor
Jane Coddington
Abstract
An increasing number of individuals 65 years of age and older are in the U.S. workforce. Many older workers are hesitant to learn new technology and adapt to digital innovation that may, in the future, automate jobs and abolish more traditional forms of employment. Organizational leaders need to understand the factors influencing older workers’ attitudes and adoption of new technology for greater productivity. The purpose of this qualitative hermeneutic phenomenological study was to examine how gender, self-esteem, and anxiety influence workplace technology utilization among older workers between 66 and 76 years of age in their jobs. The study was grounded in the diffusion of innovation theory. The participants comprised five male and five female retail store employees between 66 and 76 years old from Dekalb and Fulton Counties in the state of Georgia. Data was collected using semi structured interviews. Thematic analysis yielded four themes: (a) influences of society, work, and family; (b) emotional impact; (c) technology use challenges; and (d) workplace transformation. Findings showed that gender, self-esteem, and anxiety did influence older adult workplace technology use. Organizational leaders could apply these strategies to address aging workers experiencing anxiety and self-esteem challenges during technology use. The implications for positive social change include the potential for empowering industry stakeholders and policy makers by equipping different companies with relevant tailor-made training resources for older adults to facilitate technology use skills development and improve their productivity.
Recommended Citation
Prosper, Nadine, "Phenomenological Study of Gender, Self-Esteem, and Anxiety as Factors Influencing Older Adult Technology Use" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 17896.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/17896
