The impact of elderly privacy fatigue on the willingness to use wearable devices: the mediating role of perceived risk and the moderating role of self-efficacy

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of the impact of elderly privacy fatigue on the willingness to use wearable devices, clarify the mediating role of perceived risk and the moderating role of self-efficacy, this study provides theoretical and empirical basis for enhancing the willingness of the elderly to use wearable devices, designing age-friendly products, and implementing targeted digital literacy improvement programs. METHODS: Using the convenience sampling method, 60-year-old and above elderly individuals with digital health information acquisition experience were selected as the research subjects. Data were collected through questionnaire surveys. The General Information Survey Form, Privacy Fatigue Questionnaire, Perceived Risk Questionnaire, and Self-Efficacy Questionnaire were used for measurement. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and moderated mediation effect tests were conducted using SPSS 27.0 and Process macro program (Model 4, 8). RESULTS: The scores of elderly privacy fatigue and perceived risk were at the medium and upper medium levels, while self-efficacy and willingness to use wearable devices were at the lower medium level. All variables were significantly correlated (all P < 0.01). The mediation effect test confirmed that perceived risk played a partial mediating role between elderly privacy fatigue and wearable device usage willingness, and the mediating effect accounted for 41.10% of the total effect. The moderation effect test showed that self-efficacy negatively moderated the relationship between privacy fatigue and perceived risk, and the relationship between privacy fatigue and wearable device usage willingness was also negatively moderated by self-efficacy. And as the level of self-efficacy increased, this relationship became weaker. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that elderly privacy fatigue not only directly affects the willingness to use wearable devices but also has an indirect impact through perceived risk. Self-efficacy can significantly weaken the negative effect of privacy fatigue on perceived risk and wearable device usage willingness. This study systematically reveals the psychological mechanism by which elderly privacy fatigue affects wearable device usage willingness, deepening the understanding of the mechanism of digital device usage barriers in the elderly population. Designers and service providers of intelligent wearable devices should strive to reduce the complexity of product privacy management and prevent the occurrence of privacy fatigue. Increase the transparency of privacy data and reduce the privacy perception risk for the elderly. Secondly, digital literacy education and support for middle-aged and elderly people should aim to enhance their self-efficacy.