Social Representations Theory and the STAM: Acceptance of the Internet among Older Adults

Castro, Amanda; Vitali, Marieli Mezari; Bousfield, Andréa Barbará da Silva; Camargo, Brigido Vizeu

doi:10.1590/0102.3772e40303.en

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Social, Work and Organizations Psychology • Psic.: Teor. e Pesq. 40 • 2024 • https://doi.org/10.1590/0102.3772e40303.en copy

Social Representations Theory and the STAM: Acceptance of the Internet among Older Adults

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the social representations and acceptance of the Internet among older adults through the STAM. The participants consisted of 18 older adults divided into three groups based on their level of inclusion (low, medium/high, and low/medium). Before and after the group sessions, an attitude questionnaire was administered online. The questionnaire items underwent descriptive and relational analysis, while the data from the focus group were subjected to content analysis. We observed that the first group displayed a potential rejection of the technology due to concerns about time loss and a lack of perceived usefulness. In contrast, the second and third groups viewed the Internet as a tool that brings families together and requires patience, leading to a greater intention to use it and experimentation. The study identified that the older adults’ thoughts, attitudes, and social representations, not only about the Internet but also about aging, significantly influenced their intention to use the Internet and their perception of its usefulness.

Keywords:
social representations; Internet; older adults

Questions	Digital inclusion	Focus before				Focus after
Questions	Digital inclusion	Mean	S.E.	[1^st Q.; 3^rd Q.]	p-value¹	Mean	S.E.	[1^st Q.; 3^rd Q.]	p-value¹
Q1 - I intend to use the Internet to communicate with my family.	Low	5.33	0.33	[5.00; 6.00]	.092	5.67	0.21	[5.00; 6.00]	.074
	Low and medium	4.83	0.60	[4.00; 6.00]		5.33	0.56	[5.00; 6.00]
	High and medium	6.33	0.33	[6.00; 7.00]		6.50	0.22	[6.00; 7.00]
Q2 - I’m not afraid to use the Internet due to criminals who can access my information.	Low	2.33	0.42	[2.00; 3.00]	.005	3.17	0.31	[3.00; 4.00]	.011
	Low and medium	3.17	0.75	[2.00; 4.00]		3.67	0.88	[2.00; 5.00]
	High and medium	6.00	0.26	[6.00; 6.00]		6.33	0.21	[6.00; 7.00]
Q3 - I don’t dislike the idea of using the Internet, as aging does not hinder learning.	Low	4.17	0.31	[4.00; 5.00]	.122	4.50	0.22	[4.00; 5.00]	.024
	Low and medium	5.17	0.83	[3.00; 7.00]		5.67	0.67	[5.00; 7.00]
	High and medium	5.83	0.31	[5.00; 6.00]		6.33	0.21	[6.00; 7.00]
Q4 - I like the Internet, because it’s not something for young people only.	Low	4.83	0.31	[4.00; 5.00]	.225	4.83	0.31	[4.00; 5.00]	.022
	Low and medium	5.50	0.56	[4.00; 7.00]		6.00	0.36	[5.00; 7.00]
	High and medium	5.83	0.31	[5.00; 6.00]		6.17	0.17	[6.00; 6.00]
Q5 - I like the idea of using the Internet, as I don’t consider it a waste of time.	Low	2.67	0.33	[2.00; 3.00]	.002	2.83	0.31	[2.00; 3.00]	.001
	Low and medium	6.00	0.52	[5.00; 7.00]		6.33	0.33	[6.00; 7.00]
	High and medium	6.83	0.17	[7.00; 7.00]		6.83	0.17	[7.00; 7.00]
Q6I - I don’t feel bad when I think that people can find out about my life on the Internet.	Low	1.67	0.33	[1.00; 2.00]	.003	2.17	0.31	[2.00; 3.00]	.002
	Low and medium	2.83	0.48	[2.00; 4.00]		3.17	0.40	[2.00; 4.00]
	High and medium	4.50	0.22	[4.00; 5.00]		4.83	0.17	[5.00; 5.00]
Q7 - I like the idea of using the Internet to make new friends.	Low	2.00	0.26	[2.00; 2.00]	.007	2.50	0.22	[2.00; 3.00]	.002
	Low and medium	4.83	0.87	[3.00; 7.00]		5.83	0.54	[5.00; 7.00]
	High and medium	5.83	0.31	[5.00; 6.00]		6.50	0.22	[6.00; 7.00]
Q8 - I like to think that on social networks I can find old friends.	Low	3.00	0.36	[2.00; 4.00]	.003	3.00	0.36	[2.00; 4.00]	.002
	Low and medium	4.83	0.70	[3.00; 6.00]		5.50	0.62	[5.00; 7.00]
	High and medium	6.83	0.17	[7.00; 7.00]		6.83	0.17	[7.00; 7.00]
Q9 - I feel good when I think about shopping online.	Low	1.17	0.17	[1.00; 1.00]	.003	1.50	0.22	[1.00; 2.00]	.001
	Low and medium	3.33	0.92	[1.00; 5.00]		4.00	0.78	[2.00; 6.00]
	High and medium	6.17	0.31	[6.00; 7.00]		6.33	0.21	[6.00; 7.00]

Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília Instituto de Psicologia, Universidade de Brasília, 70910-900 - Brasília - DF - Brazil, Tel./Fax: (061) 274-6455 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
E-mail: revistaptp@gmail.com

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[1] Corresponding author
amandacastrops@gmail.com