scholarly journals Emotional Well-Being and Use of Technology During COVID-19 Social Isolation in a Predominantly Minority Older-Adult Population

Author(s):  
Sophie Y. Lin ◽  
Anuj S. Marathe ◽  
Jennifer L. Bryan ◽  
Ali Abbas Asghar-Ali
JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/33498 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Faulkenberry McCloud ◽  
Carly Perez ◽  
Mesfin Awoke Bekalu ◽  
Kasisomayajula Viswanath

Author(s):  
Hee Yun Lee ◽  
William Hasenbein ◽  
Priscilla Gibson

As the older adult population continues to grow at a rapid rate, with an estimated 2.1 billion older adults in 2050, social welfare researchers are determined to fill the shortage of gerontological social workers and structural lag to best serve the baby boomers who are expected to need different services than previous generations. Mental illness impacts over 20% of older adults in the world and the United States. The major mental health issues in older adults include depression, anxiety, loneliness, and social isolation. Depression is considered one of the most common mental health issues among this population; however, the prevalence could be underestimated due to older adults linking relevant symptoms to other causes, such as old age, instead of as possible depression. Like depression, anxiety symptoms are often mistaken as results of aging. It is also difficult for providers to diagnose anxiety in this population due to anxiety frequently being coupled with other illnesses and the psychological stress that comes with old age. Because the presence of loneliness or social isolation can manifest depression and anxiety symptoms in older adults, it is also difficult to separate these two issues. With the anticipated increase of the older adult population within the next few years, measurement tools have been created to assess depression and anxiety specifically for older adults. In addition to adapting assessment tools, interventions tailored to older adults are essential to ensure treatment coherence, even though medications are the go-to treatment option.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 194-194
Author(s):  
Stephanie Williams ◽  
Elizabeth Orsega-Smith ◽  
Laurie Ruggiero

Abstract By the year 2035, the older adult population is expected to expand to 78 million in the United States. Advancing technology has made aging in place a more accessible possibility; however, understanding what is preventing this population from adopting the advancing devices remains to be a challenge as the presence of a digital divide continues to exist. A 34-question survey adapted from the Technology Proficiency Self-Assessment Questionnaire, and the National Technology Readiness survey was administered to 101 participants over the age of 50 across five local senior centers. The average age range was 70-79 and most were female (79.2%), white (69%), and owned or had access to technology such as a computer or cell phone (93%). Examples of findings include 86% felt technology limited human interaction and 69% felt the use of technology could lead to security risk and a breach of privacy, while 79% felt technology could improve their quality of life. Results found 60-69-year-olds were significantly more likely (p<.05) to have or use technology versus 80-89-year-olds. Correlation between perception and intent to use technology among older adults was positive with a coefficient value of .59(p<.01). Showing a relationship between perceptions and behavioral intentions to use technology, specifically in 60-69-year-olds. This study found access to technology (i.e. computers, cell phones, internet) was not a driving factor of usage among the older population attending a senior center. To increase understanding further exploration of perceptions and intentions to use technology is warranted in the older adult population.


1991 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Locker ◽  
Andree Liddell ◽  
David Burman

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