The inclusion of the elderly in the digital era could positively impact their social and economic welfare. However, their level of Internet use is relatively low in Spain compared to other sectors of the population. The present study aims to explain the Internet use in this segment, capturing the heterogeneity across gender in the technology acceptance model (TAM). A sample of 492 individuals over 50 years old has been analyzed using the multigroup approach of structural equations models. The results show that although TAM is suitable for studying the phenomenon, it is necessary to consider how the gender gap in the Internet use development is real for seniors. Contrary to previous results that pointed to a greater importance of the ease of use for women than men among Internet users, male elders seem to perceive more usefulness due to higher levels of ease of use than woman. This ease of use is also better explained by the level of enjoyment for males. All these results point to unique gender differences for older adults in their Internet use.

The present study analyzes the evolution of the concept of the digital gap with the elderly from the perspective of active ageing and in the context of the use of online social networks as a communication instrument. We consider that socio-demographic variables are not enough to explain the elderly’s use or non-use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Psychological variables, such as cognitive age, technology anxiety and the level of adventurousness complement the former and can even explain more the elderly person’s behaviour regarding the use of online social networks. The results come from a sample of elderly people who are students of an Experience Classroom in a university. They allow us to confirm that our doubts about the stereotype of the elderly concerning the digital divide are correct and that the psychological variables serve to a greater extent to show the significant differences with respect to determining their profile. The elderly user of online social networks feels younger, experiences a lower level of technology anxiety and is more adventurous. In general, psychological characteristics therefore offer a more discriminant power than those that are socio-demographic. This is why we propose the concept of a psycho-digital divide. En el presente estudio analizamos la evolución del concepto de la brecha digital para los mayores desde la perspectiva del envejecimiento activo y en el contexto de la utilización de las redes sociales como instrumento de comunicación. Consideramos que las variables socio-demográficas no tienen suficiente poder para explicar la utilización o no de las tecnologías de la comunicación (TIC) por los mayores. Las variables de corte psicológico, como la edad cognitiva, la ansiedad tecnológica o el nivel de audacia complementan a las anteriores, e incluso, pueden ser más explicativas del comportamiento del mayor con relación a la utilización de redes sociales. Los resultados provenientes de una muestra de mayores, alumnos del Aula de Experiencia de una universidad, nos permiten confirmar que nuestras dudas acerca del estereotipo de los mayores respecto a la brecha digital son acertadas y que las variables psicológicas sirven, en mayor grado, para mostrar las diferencias significativas existentes entre usuarios y no usuarios de redes sociales en cuanto a la determinación del perfil de los mismos. El usuario mayor de redes sociales se siente más joven, experimenta un menor nivel de ansiedad tecnológica y es más audaz. En general, las características psicológicas ofrecen, por tanto, mayor poder discriminante que las socio-demográficas, por ello proponemos el concepto de brecha psico-digital.

Purpose: There is a strong relationship between the changes that society faces and food. The aim of this work is to analyse the differences between generations related to their behaviour towards food.Design/methodology/approach: To characterise people's behaviour towards their food, the authors will use a tool, food-related lifestyles (FRL), which has been widely employed in the literature. To achieve this general objective, the authors are going to break this down into two operational goals. Firstly, the authors will analyse if there exist differences in generations regarding the characteristics which make up their FRL. Secondly, the authors will determine if there is an association between generations and specific FRL. The authors have developed a study of 1,200 consumers.Findings: The results have enabled is to achieve the proposed aims and to describe the behaviour of each generation towards its FRL. There are significant differences in 15 of the 22 dimensions of the LRF analysed according to generations. The authors noted six consumer segments with regard to the FRL and the authors have found a relation between the characteristics which define the generations and their FRL. The findings enable offering implications for the food sector and for society.Originality/value: Firstly, this research spans the five generations present in the current society. Secondly, most works are centred on how FRL correspond with the consumption of specific products. This paper is dedicated to going thoroughly into the intergenerational similarities and differences regarding their FRL. Thirdly, the FRL tool has been especially applied in the context of Central European and Nordic countries, the USA and South-East Asia. In this work, the authors apply the FRL to a Mediterranean cultural context, Spain, characterised by a Mediterranean diet and by a significant family and social component in the diet.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the shopping intention of local products. Using the theory of planned behavior model, the authors study the effect of egoistic and altruistic benefits and the influence of contextual limitations and people’s own limitations on the intention to buy local fresh fruits and vegetables.Methodology: This paper uses a sample of 1,200 consumers of a south European city to test the model using a structural equation modeling technique with partial least squares.Findings: Although egoistic benefits have a direct effect on the shopping intention, altruistic benefits have a much higher total effect. Surprisingly, attitude does not influence shopping intention. This paper provides elements that favor the consumption of local products from a more global, social and sustainable perspective.Value: This paper provides new empirical evidence on the influence of perceived benefits and personal limitations on local food consumption.

ResumenEl objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la influencia, como variables moderadoras, del nivel educativo y la actividad laboral desarrollada por los mayores de 50 años en su proceso de aceptación de Internet, dentro del marco del modelo TAM (Technology Acceptance Model). Proponemos un modelo basado en TAM, testado mediante PLS y multi-grupo para comprobar el cumplimiento de las hipótesis de moderación propuestas. Los resultados apoyan la idoneidad del modelo aunque el poder moderador de la actividad laboral no es significativo mientras que el nivel educativo tiene mayor capacidad explicativa en el caso de los mayores sin estudios universitarios. A su vez el TAM se muestra como una herramienta apropiada para explicar la heterogeneidad de los mayores con respecto a Internet.AbstractOur aim in this work is to analyze the impact, as moderator variables, of the level of education and the profession on the Internet acceptance level in people older than 50 years old. We propose a model based on a Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). We contrast the moderator hypotheses proposed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) and multi-group analysis. The results support the suitability of the model showing a non-significant moderator effect of the profession, whereas the education level presents a higher explanatory power for older adults with no university degree. In addition, TAM appears to be an appropriatetool to explain the heterogeneity of this segment as regards the Internet