The age differences appear to affect what type of emotional reaction users have to technology. There is a clear generational difference in emotional reactions. The older generation tends to experience more negative emotions than younger adults. Adults experience more anxiety using technology than college students and younger adults. The older generations express a desire for technology to be simplified, and feel intimidated by computers. Older adults reported the most anxiety when using technology. The older population is finding ways to combat the obstacles they face when using technology. The most common way to cope with these challenges is by seeking help from others, whether it is family, friends, or …show more content…
The hypothesis that the younger adults would be more likely to experience anxiety when without their cell phones, and less likely to experience frustration with technology, was also supported. This data has important implications in an era when older adults were a large and increasing proportion of the American populace. Businesses that want to uphold or attract older workers may need to provide them with training in using new technology to help them be more productive. This data also has insinuations for the social worlds of older adults, as younger adults engage in more technology-based communication. Many groups, from condominium associations to religious congregations and other non-profit organizations, have transitioned to primarily using electronic communication, thus it is important to understand that the oldest adults in the group may be less likely to be included in this type of discussion. There are a few noteworthy limitations. First, given that there were numerous student assistant researchers; there may have been procedural inconsistencies. Second, some participants found the questionnaire to be too lengthy, leading to some missing data, especially in the demographic section. In addition, there are other types of technology/social media sites/cell phone applications that are not included in