(An) exploratory study of E-government service adoption in the aging population

Abstract

This study examines the socioeconomic factors associated with the adoption of e-government services among the aging population in South Korea, with a focus on the comparison between baby boomers and the current cohort of older adults. Data came from the 2015 E-Government Service Usage Survey, a nationally representative survey, in South Korea. Analysis was limited to participants born between 1963 and 1955 (baby boomers, N=795) and those born before 1955 (older adults, N=464). Participants were asked whether they were aware of and used e-government services. The study also observed how often the participants used categorical and transactional e-government services for the past year. A series of logistic regression models were estimated to examine the associations of socioeconomic status with the awareness, adoption, and use patterns of e-government services by cohort. The current study revealed cohort differences in e-government service awareness and adoption among the aging population. The majority of baby boomers used e-government services, but nearly half of older adults were even unaware of e-government service. Moreover, the two cohorts differed in predictors of the service adoption. While education level and unemployment predicted e-government service adoption of baby boomers, they did not predict the adoption of older adults. The findings suggest that effective promotion on e-government services should come first for older adults, and the government’s strategies to promote e-government service adoption need to be developed specifically for each cohort of the aging population considering the age cohort differences. Furthermore, more attentions need to be paid to those with lower education levels when developing e-government policies for baby boomers.