Factors associated with older adults’ acceptance of socially assistive robots in elder care : a scoping review of quantitative findings (WP1.2) : research report on the project ARIS J5-70195

Laznik, Jerneja (author), Hvalič Touzery, Simona (author), Šetinc, Mojca (author)

The potential of socially assistive robots (SARs) to support older adults in everyday life, is becoming increasingly recognized, leading to growing research on their use in elder care. Their acceptance is shaped by a wide range of factors related to older adults and their circumstances, as well as by the characteristics and functions of SARs, which vary in their capabilities, autonomy, and intended use. Existing reviews have identified numerous factors potentially relevant to SAR acceptance across different populations of older adults and health and care contexts. However, they have approached acceptance more broadly, through perceptions, preferences, barriers and facilitators, rather than factors statistically examined in relation to SAR acceptance. This scoping review synthesizes quantitative evidence on factors associated with SAR acceptance among community-dwelling older adults, distinguishing between bivariate and multivariable findings. It builds on factors derived from established technology models with additional factors identified across included studies. A scoping review was conducted following established methodological guidance and reported in line with PRISMA-ScR. In April 2026, a systematic search was conducted using the NUK mEga search to identify relevant literature. Additional studies were identified through backward reference screening and supplementary screening of previously collected project materials. Fourteen eligible studies reported quantitative evidence, were conducted among community-dwelling older adults, examined SAR acceptance as measurable outcome, and examined factors in relation to SAR acceptance. Data was charted and synthesized using a descriptive approach. A hybrid deductive–inductive coding strategy combined deductive theory-derived codes from established technology acceptance models with inductive codes emerging from the data. The data were analysed in ATLAS.ti 9. We identified 108 unique acceptance factors, which were organised in three groups and seven categories. Theory-derived acceptance factors comprised of 11 factors, while 60 user-related factors were organized into four categories, and 37 technology-related factors into three categories. Of these, 71 factors were examined as direct predictors in multivariable analyses, while 91 were examined in bivariate analyses. Bivariate findings strongly supported theory-derived acceptance factors, with 10 of 11 consistently significantly associated with SAR acceptance, while evidence from multivariable analyses was more limited. Perceived usefulness/performance expectancy showed the strongest evidence across multiple studies, although findings were not fully consistent. Among user-related acceptance factors, the strongest evidence emerged in a category of technology-related user characteristics. Technology use self-efficacy, robot use self-efficacy, technology enthusiasm, and digital belongingness positively predicted SAR acceptance in multivariable analyses, while robot anxiety negatively predicted SAR acceptance. Evidence in a group of technology-related acceptance factors was fragmented. Convenience emerged as one of the more consistently relevant factors across studies. Findings suggest that established technology acceptance models remain relevant for understanding SAR acceptance among community-dwelling older adults, while also highlighting the relevance of factors extending beyond these models. Older adults’ perceived capabilities, confidence, and relationship with technology and the digital environment may be particularly important, along the extent to which SARs are perceived to offer benefits in everyday life. On the other hand, the findings suggest that SAR acceptance depends less on older adults’ demographic characteristics and broader non-technological context.

• Language: English
• Keywords: socially assistive robots, acceptance, community-dwelling older adults, quantitative studies, scoping review
• Typology: 2.13 - Treatise, Preliminary Study, Study
• Organization: FDV - Faculty of Social Sciences
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 68 str.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-189685
• Publication date in RUL: 15.10.2026

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Dejavniki, povezani s sprejemanjem socialnih robotov v oskrbi med starejšimi osebami: področni pregled kvantitativnih ugotovitev (DP1.2) : raziskovalno poročilo na ARIS J5-70195 projektu

Abstract

Potencial socialnih robotov (SR) za podporo starejšim osebam v vsakdanjem življenju je vse bolj prepoznan, kar vodi v naraščajoče raziskovalno zanimanje za njihovo uporabo v oskrbi starejših oseb. Sprejemanje SR med starejšimi osebami oblikujejo številni dejavniki, povezani s starejšimi osebami in njihovimi okoliščinami, kakor tudi značilnosti in funkcije SR, ki se razlikujejo glede na svoje zmogljivosti, stopnjo avtonomije in namen uporabe. Obstoječi pregledi so identificirali številne dejavnike, ki so pomembni za sprejemanje SR med različnimi skupinami starejših oseb, v različnih kontekstih oskrbe. Vendar so sprejemanje pogosto obravnavali z vidika zaznav, preferenc ter dejavnikov, ki spodbujajo ali ovirajo sprejemanje, namesto osredotočenosti na dejavnike, ki so statistično preučevani v povezavi s sprejemanjem SR. Pričujoči področni pregled združuje kvantitativne dokaze o dejavnikih, povezanih s sprejemanjem SR med starejšimi osebami, ki živijo doma. Pri tem ločuje med ugotovitvami bivariatnih in multivariatnih analiz in izhaja iz dejavnikov, izhajajoč iz uveljavljenih modelov sprejemanja tehnologij ter jih dopolnjuje z dodatnimi dejavniki, ki so identificirani v vključenih študijah. Področni pregled literature je bil izveden skladno z uveljavljenimi metodološkimi smernicami in pripravljen v skladu z okvirom PRISMA-ScR. Aprila 2026, je bilo z iskalnikom NUK mEga izvedeno sistematično iskanje relevantne literature. Dodatne študije so bile identificirane s pregledom referenc vključenih študij ter pregledom predhodno zbranih projektnih gradiv. Vključenih je bilo 14 kvantitativnih študij, izvedenih med starejšimi osebami, ki živijo doma, v katerih je bilo sprejemanje SR obravnavano kot merljiv izid, dejavniki pa so bili statistično preučevani v povezavi z njim. Podatki so bili popisani in sintetizirani z deskriptivnim pristopom. Hibridna deduktivno-induktivna strategija kodiranja je združila deduktivne kode, iz uveljavljenih modelov sprejemanja tehnologij, z induktivnimi kodami, ki so izhajale iz podatkov. Podatki so bili analizirani s programom ATLAS.ti 9. Identificirali smo 108 različnih dejavnikov sprejemanja, ki smo jih razvrstili v tri skupine in sedem kategorij. Teoretsko izpeljanih dejavnikov je bilo 11; 60 dejavnikov, povezanih z uporabnikom, ki so bili razvrščeni v štiri kategorije; 37 dejavnikov, povezanih s tehnologijo pa v tri kategorije. Od vseh identificiranih dejavnikov jih je bilo 71 preučevanih kot neposrednih napovednikov v multivariatnih, 91 pa v bivariatnih analizah. Bivariatne ugotovitve so pokazale močno empirično podporo teoretsko izpeljanim dejavnikom, 10 od 11 dejavnikov je bilo dosledno statistično značilno povezanih s sprejemanjem SR, medtem ko je bila podpora v multivariatnih analizah omejena. Zaznana uporabnost/pričakovana učinkovitost se je pokazala kot eden ključnih dejavnikov, čeprav ugotovitve niso bile povsem konsistentne. Med dejavniki povezanimi z uporabniki, so bile najpomembnejše značilnosti uporabnikov, povezane s tehnologijo. Samoučinkovitost pri uporabi tehnologije in robotov, tehnološki entuziazem ter občutek digitalne pripadnosti so v multivariatnih analizah pozitivno napovedovali sprejemanje SR, medtem ko ga je anksioznost, povezana z roboti, napovedovala negativno. Ugotovitve glede dejavnikov povezanih s tehnologijo so bile manj enotne. Veliko dejavnikov je bilo preučevanih le v posameznih študijah. Priročnost se je v več študijah pokazala kot pomemben dejavnik, povezan s sprejemanjem SR. Ugotovitve kažejo, da uveljavljeni modeli sprejemanja tehnologij ostajajo pomembni tudi za razumevanje sprejemanja SR med starejšimi osebami, ki živijo doma. Hkrati pa izpostavljajo pomen dejavnikov, ki niso vključeni v te modele. Posebej pomembne so lahko lastne zaznane zmožnosti starejših oseb, njihova samozavest ter odnos do tehnologije, kakor tudi to v kolikšni meri v SR prepoznajo koristi za svoje vsakdanje življenje. Po drugi strani ugotovitve kažejo, da je sprejemanje SR v manjši meri povezano z demografskimi značilnostmi starejših oseb in njihovim širšim kontekstom, ki ni povezan s tehnologijami.

• Keywords: socialni roboti, sprejemanje, starejše osebe ki živijo doma, kvalitativne študije, področni pregled

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J5-70195
• Name: Socialni roboti v oskrbi starejših oseb: sprejemanje, starizem, cenovna dostopnost in učinki uporabe