Effects of user personality traits and usage scenarios on middle-aged and older women using voice assistants

Abstract This study investigated the effects of user personality traits, usage scenarios, and age on middle-aged and older women using voice assistants. Seventy-two middle-aged and older women (mean age = 57.7 years, SD = 7.6 years) participated in a 2 (user personality: introverted and extraverted, between-subjects) × 2 (user personality traits: emotionally stable and unstable, between-subjects) × 2 (age group: middle-aged and older women, between-subjects) × 2 (usage scenario: entertainment and medical, within-subjects) mixed design experiment. The Wizard of Oz method was used in this study. The study found that introverted and emotionally stable middle-aged women were least likely to self-disclose when interacting with voice assistants. Compared with medical scenarios, participants in entertainment scenarios had higher trust in the ability and integrity of voice assistants and lower mental workload. Middle-aged women had higher trust in ability and integrity, and lower mental workload than older women. Middle-aged and older women were affected differently by user personality traits in self-disclosure and by usage scenarios in acceptance. This study has implications for policymakers, designers, and manufacturers.