Effects of psychological resilience on social media information-sharing behavior in older adults: mediating role of technology anxiety and perceived enjoyment

Background Against the backdrop of the rapid development of information technology, accelerated population aging, and the prominent “digital divide” among older adults, the information-sharing behavior of older adults on social media has attracted significant attention. Understanding the mechanism behind their information-sharing on social media is crucial for bridging the digital divide and promoting healthy aging. Methods This study combines Technology Acceptance Model and Uses and Gratification Theory to construct a theoretical model with psychological resilience as the core, and explores its influence mechanism with technology anxiety, social interaction, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use on the information sharing behavior of older adults. A questionnaire survey was conducted among Chinese older adults aged 55 and above, from which a total of 297 valid responses were collected. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was then used to conduct an empirical analysis. Results The results show that psychological resilience, social interaction, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use significantly positively affect the information sharing behavior of older adults, while technology anxiety negatively inhibits information sharing and significantly reduces the perceived ease of use of social media of older adults. Psychological resilience directly influences information sharing behavior and indirectly promotes information sharing behavior by reducing technology anxiety, but it has no significant direct correlation with perceived enjoyment. Social interaction indirectly promotes information sharing through the mediation of perceived enjoyment. Discussion This study not only provides a reference for understanding the information-sharing behavior of older adults, promoting their integration into the digital society, and facilitating the harmonious coexistence of digitalization and aging, but also offers deeper insights into how to support older adults in overcoming digital barriers and improving their quality of life through meaningful online interactions.