Differential Well-Being Outcomes from Smart Device Adoption: A Comparative Analysis of Seniors and Non-Seniors
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Smart devices are reshaping daily life; nevertheless, a notable digital divide persists in their usage. This study explores whether the divide in smart device usage is associated with a well-being divide and whether this association varies by age. Employing the Mann-Whitney U test, we examine the relationship between smart device usage and well-being scores among 21,966 individuals, including 5,053 senior citizens and 16,913 non-seniors in England. Our findings indicate that individuals using smartwatches, smart speakers, smart home security systems, and smart energy devices experience significantly better well-being than non-users. While these devices generally improve well-being for both seniors and non-seniors, the positive effects are more pronounced among younger users. Interestingly, using smart kitchen appliances is not associated with seniors’ well-being.
Authors: Dapeng Liu, Jinyu Liu, Xinru Song, Tejaswi Saxena
Institutions: Baylor University, Fordham University
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4411276420