Determinants of technophobia and technophilia amongst older adult: A review of the literature

Objective: To identify and extract the determinants of technophobia and technophilia in the among older adults aged 60 years and over. Study Design: A Review of the literature Study Environment: Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar, Magiran and SID, as well as theses and e books, were searched from inception to 2025 without time restriction for English and Persian language publications. Participants: Older adults (≥60 years) included in quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods studies that examined attitudes toward technology, technology acceptance, or factors related to fear or enthusiasm for technology. Studies on younger populations or without clear focus on older adults’ technology attitudes were excluded. Interventions: No intervention was performed in this study, and articles related to technology and its influencing factors were reviewed. Outcome Criteria: Fear and fascination with technology Results: Twenty five studies met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, older age, lower education, physical and cognitive limitations, low digital literacy, lack of social support, privacy and security concerns, and complex or non adapted interfaces were consistently associated with higher levels of technophobia. In contrast, higher education, better health, stronger social support, higher self efficacy, previous positive experience with technology, and user friendly design were frequently linked to technophilia and greater willingness to use digital tools. Conclusion: Technophobia and technophilia in older adults arise from a combination of individual, psychosocial and technological factors, suggesting that effective interventions must simultaneously strengthen digital literacy and self efficacy, enhance social and educational support, and promote age friendly technology design. Context specific and indigenous research, especially in Iranian older adults, is needed to tailor interventions to cultural and gender related differences in technology experience.