Facilitators and barrier factors predicting the use of mobile payments by middle-aged and older adults: Social influence as the role of precursor

This study aims to investigate both facilitators and barriers to mobile payment adoption among middle-aged and older adults using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a theoretical framework. This study is distinctive in that we especially highlight the factor of social influence as the precursor in terms of targeting older adults. Also, for the contradictory characteristics when middle-aged and older adults using mobile payments, the current study emphasizes both facilitators and barriers. Data were collected from 386 Taiwanese middle-aged and older adults (M_age = 58.98, observed age range = 50–80 years, 68% female) through paper-based and online questionnaires using convenience sampling. We developed a model of mobile payment facilitators and barriers specifically for older adults and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS software to verify the proposed facilitator and barrier models. The research findings indicate that in the facilitator model, social influence has a positive effect on the ease of use of mobile payment, which further positively influences usefulness, users' attitudes toward mobile payment, and usage behavior. Conversely, in the barrier model, the lack of social influence and privacy has a positive effect on the difficulty and uselessness of mobile payment, which further negatively affects users' attitudes toward and usage behavior of mobile payment. Our study found that social influence is a significant precursor variable indicating that family and friend recommendations might promote mobile payment adoption. In addition, lack of privacy protection hindered middle-aged and older adults from using mobile payments.