The link between state-of-mind and individuals’ willingness to adopt and continue using smartphones

Although numerous studies have examined factors that influence smartphone acceptance and use, few have analyzed cognitive age. This study aims to use the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) to test two models to analyze the moderating effect of cognitive age. This research offers relevant suggestions among different cognitive age groups.

A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect research data in Taiwan and the UTAUT model was used. Model 1 ensures all four antecedent constructs among digital natives (those under 34 years old). Model 2 divides the digital immigrants into two groups to test the influence of cognitive age on the behaviors of smartphone use. This study tests Model 1 using AMOS 20 to examine the measurement and structural model and validates Model 2 using partial least squares (PLSs).

In Model 1, the digital natives have sufficient confidence to accept a new technology with ease and little effort owing to most educational resources and the widespread internet. Group 1 in Model 2 reveals that the behavior of digital immigrants is similar to that of digital natives. For Group 2 in Model 2, they tend to infer that skills or tasks they associate with having higher value are more difficult to learn.

This study provides another dimensional result for different cognitive age groups and it has to consider not only chronological age but also cognitive age in user behavior. The result can enrich the theoretical perspective on technology adoption and use behavior via cognitive age, which is a significant and important self-related factor that can help predict technology adoption and use behavior.