Abstract:

Technological progress has an active influence on the development of man and society, however, achievements such as digital technologies and all sorts of gadgets are more accessible to the general population than to older generation. The reasons are differences in age, economic and social status, education, attitude to technological innovations. Nevertheless, older people can be positively motivated in introduction to the digital space, if the possibilities of digital technologies in improving the quality of life are unlocked and psychological support is provided.

To identify typical difficulties of older generation in interaction with the digital world and facilitators and barriers to this communication, the pilot study was conducted. Leading method - semi-structured interview. The goals of the study were:
1) to find out to what extent respondents are familiar with digital technologies and know how to use it, what helps or hinders their joining the digital space;
2) to describe the differences in the difficulties and emotions associated with the acquisition of digital technologies by respondents of different age groups. The survey involved 68 respondents aged from 58 to 91 (51 women, 17 men). Respondents aged 58-64 performed as a comparative group (16.2% of sample); aged 65-69 - 48,5%; aged 70-79 - 22,1%; aged 80 and more was 13.2%, which generally corresponds to the ratio of the age composition of the elderly urban population.

The results describing the level of proficiency in digital technology showed that 73.5% of respondents had gadgets with access to the Internet and used them for search of useful information (32.4 per cent); communication with family and friends (27.9 percent); entertainment, watching videos (20,6%); sending and receiving e-mail messages (13,2%); using of public services, payments, purchases (10,3)%; communication in social networks (7,4%); participation in discussion forums (about 1.5%). A typical difficulty is the lack of knowledge and skills (50%), complexity of the procedure (23.5%). However, the differences between age groups in the nature of psychological barriers were found out. Thus, the respondents aged 65-69 (5,9%), aged 70-79 (35.7%) and aged more than 80 (44,4%) experienced the sense of uncertainty, people aged 58-64 did not give such answers. Difficulties related to health were meaningful for 13.2% of the respondents; to the financial cost -11.8%. Health problems were most significant for the oldest group, and the financial issue and lack of assistance in mastering the technical procedures were more important for 70-79 years old respondents.

All respondents felt positive emotions if they succeeded. Thus, 48.5% of respondents were satisfied with the achieved results, and 26.5% of participants regretted not having learned more. Within the youngest and eldest groups 8.8% of respondents were upset by their failure. However, negative experiences were different: the group older than 80 years often referred to irritation, and in the group of 58-64 year old respondents, there were no such responses. On this basis, we can talk about the ambivalent feelings, which differ in the selected age groups.

The obtained results allow to draw conclusions on the need to develop the concept of introducing older people to the digital space, taking into account the features of manifestation of psychological barriers among representatives of different age groups.

Keywords:

Digital technology, psychological barrier, older age.