The Influence of UI Design Attributes and Users' Uncertainty Avoidance on Stickiness of the Young Elderly Toward mHealth Applications

Abstract

The advantages of mHealth applications have been widely recognized. However, the existing literature rarely explores how user interface (UI) design and individual cultural values influence elderly users' mHealth application stickiness, particularly among the young elderly. This study examines how two UI design attributes (usability and aesthetics) and individual uncertainty avoidance (from Hofstede's cultural dimensions) influence elderly users' stickiness to mHealth applications. The study used PLS-SEM to analyze survey data from 492 elderly people in China. The research results indicate that uncertainty avoidance cultural values are negatively correlated with psychological engagement. The UI design attributes (aesthetic and usability) are positively correlated with psychological engagement, with learnability (usability sub-attributes) having the most significant impact. Furthermore, the study also reveals the serial mediation role of psychological engagement and user internal experiences (satisfaction and attachment). Notably, this study enriches the current literature on user behavior regarding mHealth applications by elucidating the process of user stickiness, incorporating UI design attributes and individual uncertainty avoidance cultural values. These findings offer valuable theoretical and practical insights.