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Age-group differences in writing-instrument use, observed pen angles, and mechanical pencil lead wear patterns: an exploratory cross-sectional study in Shimane Prefecture

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This exploratory cross-sectional study examined age-group differences in writing-instrument use, observed pen angle relative to the paper, and mechanical pencil lead wear patterns among participants aged 9–87 years who were recruited in Shimane Prefecture, Japan. The questionnaire-based analysis included 48 participants, while the analysis of observed pen angle during a standardized mechanical-pencil writing task included 47 participants for whom valid measurements were obtained. A comparison between the exploratorily defined groups of participants aged 20 years or younger and those aged 21 years or older showed that the proportion of frequent ballpoint-pen users was higher in the group aged 21 years or older, whereas the proportion of frequent mechanical-pencil users was higher in the group aged 20 years or younger. In addition, age category, recorded on an ordinal scale, was negatively associated with observed pen angle θ obs , and a difference in observed pen angle was also found between the two age groups. In contrast, no statistically significant difference in the variance of observed pen angle was found between the groups. Descriptive trends in mechanical pencil lead wear patterns were presented by age category. This study did not directly measure digital-device use, previous writing experience, fountain-pen performance, or the environmental impacts of writing instruments.

Source: Social Sciences & Humanities Open

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssaho.2026.103951