Lin Yi, Rowles Graham D, Stromberg Arnold J, Zeidan Rola S, Mankowski Robert T
Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA.
Graduate Center for Gerontology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40508, USA.
F1000Res. 2023 Oct 18;12:1376. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.136724.1. eCollection 2023.
Mobile technology (MT) has become essential in receiving information and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Imposed quarantines could have led to varying adaptations of MT use. This study explored how COVID-19 impacted behavior, perception, and attitudes toward MT use in the United States. We distributed a pilot-tested survey online. Participants were MT users ≥ 35 years old. All participants responded based on their recalled experience of using MT before COVID-19 and their recent experience during COVID-19. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The average age of the 1212 participants was 56.1±12.2 years (55% female). Daily use frequency (from ≤3 to ≥4 hours/day) and perceived necessity (from some need to a strong need) during COVID-19 significantly increased (p<0.001) compared to before COVID-19. There was a significant increase (p<0.001) in video calls/meetings, online education, grocery/food delivery, and ordering taxi/car during COVID-19 compared to before. Participants increased (p≤0.001) their attention to the physical, social, and emotional benefits of using MT during the pandemic. COVID-19 increased MT use and acceptance in the United States. The knowledge gained from this study will help remove barriers to using and accepting MT and provide directions for MT development in middle-aged and older populations.
在新冠疫情期间，移动技术（MT）已成为获取信息和服务的重要工具。实施的隔离措施可能导致了人们对移动技术使用的不同适应情况。本研究探讨了新冠疫情如何影响美国民众对移动技术使用的行为、认知和态度。我们在网上分发了一份经过预测试的调查问卷。参与者为年龄≥35岁的移动技术用户。所有参与者都根据他们在新冠疫情之前使用移动技术的回忆经历以及近期在疫情期间的经历进行了回答。数据分析包括描述性统计和威尔科克森符号秩检验。1212名参与者的平均年龄为56.1±12.2岁（55%为女性）。与新冠疫情之前相比，疫情期间的每日使用频率（从≤3小时/天增加到≥4小时/天）和感知必要性（从有一定需求到强烈需求）显著增加（p<0.001）。与之前相比，新冠疫情期间视频通话/会议、在线教育、食品杂货/外卖以及叫出租车/网约车的使用显著增加（p<0.001）。在疫情期间，参与者对使用移动技术的身体、社交和情感益处的关注度有所提高（p≤0.001）。新冠疫情增加了美国民众对移动技术的使用和接受度。本研究获得的知识将有助于消除使用和接受移动技术的障碍，并为中老年人群体的移动技术发展提供方向。
