Research on the Motivations and Cognitive Changes of Older Groups Watching Micro-Short Dramas in the Smart Media Era

In the age of smart media, innovation in digital technology has reshaped the cultural consumption patterns and cognitive construction methods of older adults. Focusing on a sample of 24 older viewers, this study employed a combination of grounded theory and in-depth interviews to systematically examine the motivations behind their micro-drama viewing and its impact on their cognitive construction. This study identified five core motivations—social, utilitarian, reciprocal, self-display, and altruistic— that are, in essence, active constructions of meaning in later life. Based on the analytical framework of motivation theory, the study proposes a “viewing-satisfaction-reconstruction” practice model. Through the practice of watching micro-dramas, older adults achieve a behavioral leap from individual emotional satisfaction to collective meaning-making, which enhances their quality of life and happiness in later years. Our findings provide a new theoretical perspective for understanding the characteristics of cultural consumption among older adults in the smart media age.