scholarly journals DOES CHANGE IN INTERNET USE PREDICT PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG OLDER ADULTS?

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S326-S326
Author(s):  
Ronald W Berkowsky
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Personal Growth ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Additional Control ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Previous work focusing on the relationship between Internet use and quality of life among older adults (aged 65+) has found evidence of various positive impacts. This project expands upon this work by examining the relationship between Internet use and measures of psychological well-being (PWB) including autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance. The analytic sample is derived from two waves of data (Time 1 = 2004, Time 2 = 2011) taken from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study and includes a sample of older adults aged~65 at Time 1 (N = 4943). Participants were separated into four categories: those who did not use the Internet at Time 1 or 2, those who used the Internet at Time 1 only, those who used the Internet at Time 2 only, and those who used the Internet at both Time 1 and 2. Regression analyses were performed with the Time 2 PWB measures as the outcomes and the Internet use categories as the primary predictors. Results indicate that while continuous Internet users typically reported higher PWB scores compared to non-users, those who stopped use between Time 1 and 2 also reported higher scores and those who started use between Time 1 and 2 reported lower scores. These results generally held when introducing Time 1 PWB measures as controls, suggesting changes in Internet use may affect PWB but not necessarily in the predicted directions. Additional control variables, potential explanations, and implications for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Older Adults’ Internet Use Is Varied, Suggesting the Need for Targeted Rather Than Broadly Focused Outreach

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
Ann Glusker
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Latent Class Analysis ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Class Analysis ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Health Factors ◽  
Use Of The Internet

A Review of: van Boekel, L.C., Peek, S. T., & Luijkx, K.G. (2017). Diversity in older adults’ use of the Internet: Identifying subgroups through latent class analysis. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 19(5:e180), 1-10. doi: 10.2196/jmir.6853 Abstract Objective – To determine the amount and types of variation in Internet use among older adults, and to test its relationship to social and health factors. Design – Representative longitudinal survey panel of households Setting – The Netherlands Subjects – A panel with 1,418 members who were over 65 years of age had answered the survey questionnaire that included Internet use questions, and who reported access to and use of the Internet. Methods – Using information about the Internet activities the respondents reported, the authors conducted latent class analysis and extracted a best-fitting model including four clusters of respondent Internet use types.  The four groups were analyzed using descriptive statistics and compared using ANOVA and chi-square tests.  Analysis and comparisons were conducted both between groups, and on the relationship of the groups with a range of social and health variables. Main Results – The four clusters identified included: 1) practical users using the Internet for practical purposes such as financial transactions; 2) social users using the Internet for activities such as social media and gaming; 3) minimizers, who spent the least time on the Internet and were the oldest group; and 4) maximizers, who used the Internet for the widest range of purposes, for the most time, and who were the youngest group.  Once the clusters were delineated, social and health factors were examined (specifically social and emotional loneliness, psychological well-being, and two activities of daily living (ADL) measures).  There were significant differences between groups, but the effect sizes were small.  Practical users had higher psychological well-being, whereas minimizers had the lowest scores related to ADLs and overall health (however, they were also the oldest group). Conclusions – The establishment of four clusters of Internet use types demonstrates that older adults are not homogeneous in their Internet practices.  However, there were no marked findings showing differences between the clusters in social and health-related variables (the minimizers reported lower health status, but they were also the oldest group).  Nevertheless, the finding of Internet use heterogeneity is an important one for those who wish to connect with older adults through Internet-based programming.  The different patterns evidenced in each cluster will require differing outreach strategies. It also highlights the need for ongoing longitudinal research, to determine whether those who are currently younger and more technologically savvy will age into similar patterns that these authors found, or whether a new set of older adult Internet use profiles will emerge as younger generations with more Internet experience and affinity become older.

scholarly journals INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNET USE AND PERCEIVED LONELINESS AMONG OLDER CHINESE

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S413-S413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shijie Song ◽  
Shijie Song ◽  
Yuxiang (Chris) Zhao ◽  
Qinghua Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dummy Variable ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Age Range ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract There is a long debate on the impact of Internet use on individuals’ perceived loneliness. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between older Chinese people’s Internet use and their perceived loneliness. We employed cross-sectional data from the 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (N = 7,343; age range: 50-80 years old; Mean = 62.48; SD=8.00). Loneliness was measured by a 4-point Likert scale (Mean = 1.60, SD = 1.05) on the frequency of loneliness perception (higher score indicates higher loneliness). Internet use was measured by a dummy variable (Mean = 0.05, SD = 0.23). The results of multiple regression suggest that older Internet users reported significantly lower loneliness (B = -0.127, SD = 0.045, p = 0.005) compared with non-Internet users, suggesting a mitigating effect of Internet use on loneliness. Thus, the Internet might be implemented as an intervention to reduce loneliness among older adults in China.

A “crescendo” model: designing food experiences for psychological well-being

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Zarantonello ◽  
Silvia Grappi ◽  
Marcello Formisano ◽  
Bernd H. Schmitt
Keyword(s):  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Life Satisfaction ◽  
Consumer Experiences ◽  
Mind Set ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This paper aims to advance the design-thinking approach in food from an engineering mind-set toward a positive psychology perspective by investigating how consumer experiences evoked by food-related activities can facilitate, stimulate and enhance individuals’ happiness and perceptions of life satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach A diary field experiment was conducted. Participants from a major European city were asked to reflect on their food-related activities, provide descriptions and answer questions on experiential stimulation derived from these activities in relation to happiness and perceived life satisfaction. Findings Food-related activities generally result in positive consumer experiences and psychological well-being. Experiential stimulation resulting from food activities is positively related to perceived life satisfaction directly and indirectly via pleasure and meaning. Although the authors found an overall positive relationship between these constructs, they also found differences based on the experience type considered. A “crescendo model” of experiences that details how experiences lead to happiness and perceived life satisfaction is presented. Research limitations/implications This study is largely exploratory. Future research should adopt an experimental approach and further test the relationship between experiential stimulation, happiness and perceived life satisfaction in the context of food. Practical implications The paper offers innovation teams in food companies a practical “crescendo model” that can be used to design product–consumer interactions. Originality/value The research bridges literatures on design thinking, psychological well-being and consumer experiences. By studying the relationship between experiences, happiness and perceived life satisfaction in the context of food, the findings contribute to research on food well-being by expanding the notion of happiness seen only as pleasure. The research also contributes to work on design thinking by offering an experiential framework that contributes to the notion of consumer empathy.

scholarly journals Age Differences in the Relationship Between Daily Social Media Usage and Affect

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 410-410
Author(s):  
Xin Yao Lin ◽  
Margie Lachman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Age Differences ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Daily Time

Abstract Social media platforms allow people to connect and share content online (e.g., Facebook, Twitter). Although older adults are becoming more frequent users of social media, there continue to be mixed views on whether social media positively or negatively impacts well-being. Past studies have mainly focused on cross-sectional analyses for individual differences. However, both the time spent on social media and one’s affect can fluctuate on a daily basis. Thus, it is important to understand how the relationship between daily social media usage and affect varies within individuals from day to day. The current study adds to the literature by examining whether daily variations in time spent with social media are related to daily positive and negative affect and whether there are age differences in these relationships. The current study used an eight-day daily diary from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Refresher dataset for 782 participants (ages 25-75). Multilevel modeling results revealed that age moderated the relationship between daily time spent on social media and negative affect: for younger adults, on days when they spent more time on social media, they had more negative affect. For older adults, on days when they spent more time on social media, they had less negative affect. Surprisingly, daily time spent on social media was not related to daily positive affect, nor did this relationship differ by age. Implications for future research are discussed with a focus on how social media usage can contribute to daily well-being for adults of different ages.

Older Adults and Their Internet Behaviors

2012 ◽  
pp. 608-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Mazur ◽  
Margaret L. Signorella ◽  
Michelle Hough
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Attitudinal Barriers ◽  
Cognitive Limitations ◽  
Future Research Directions ◽  
Use Of The Internet

Early research on older adult computer users focused on the possibility for technology to increase social interaction and alleviate loneliness. Subsequent research has been equivocal on the possible benefits of the Internet for well-being. Nonetheless, in spite of an initial “gray gap,” older adults are increasingly joining younger cohorts in using the Internet. Barriers to older adults’ use of the Internet remain, such as physical and cognitive limitations. Attitudinal barriers may exist, but it is unclear whether these result from lack of experience or differences in income or health status. Business researchers have found that older persons differ from other age groups in their Internet engagement patterns, including online buying. Future research directions include whether computers can improve cognitive functioning and quality of life, how to increase engagement levels, and if there will always be a lag in technology use among older adults.

Internet Use and Psychological Well-Being

2012 ◽  
pp. 302-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiungjung Huang
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Networking Site ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Site Use ◽  
Meta Analyses

The direction of the correlation between Internet use and psychological well-being is debatable. The displacement hypothesis indicates the correlation is negative, as Internet use for communication replaces face-to face-interaction. Conversely, the augmentation hypothesis suggests that the correlation is positive because Internet use for communication complements existing social interaction. While previous empirical findings about the relationship between Internet use and psychological well-being have been diverse, two previous meta-analyses and the present meta-analysis about the use of social networking sites and psychological well-being supported neither position, and found no relationship between Internet use and psychological well-being. Investigation of causal predominance between Internet use and psychological well-being, increased attention to measurement problems of social networking site use and older adults, and consideration of effects of indicators and moderators should be addressed in future research.

scholarly journals A longitudinal analysis of the association between the living arrangements and psychological well-being of older Chinese adults: the role of income sources

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zi Zhou ◽  
Lun Cai ◽  
Meilan Zhuang ◽  
Y. Alicia Hong ◽  
Ya Fang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Living Arrangements ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Total Sample ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Living Alone ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background Understanding how living arrangements may affect psychological well-being (PWB) is critical in China, a society with the largest older population in the world. However, few studies have examined the moderating effect of income sources on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB. Our aim was to examine whether living arrangements are associated with PWB and whether income sources moderate this association. Methods The data were drawn from the third (2002) to sixth (2011/2012) waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Six questions reflecting older adults’ well-being were used to measure PWB. Living arrangements were classified as follows: living alone, living with family and living in an institution. Income sources were categorized into financially independent, supported by children, and governmental support. We performed random-effects ordinal probit models to examine the association of living arrangements with PWB and the moderating effect of income sources on this relationship. Results We included a total sample of 30,899 observations for 16,020 respondents aged 65 and over during 9-year follow-up. Older adults living with family (β = .29, p < .001) and those living in an institution (β = .34, p < .001) had stronger PWB than those living alone; moreover, support from children (β= −.24, p < .001) or from the government (β= −.08, p < .05) has a negative effect on PWB compared to the effect of financial self-support. Living in an institution with support from children (β= −.22, p < .05) led to lower PWB than living alone with financial self-support. The opposite result was observed for older adults living with their family and supported by the government (β = .16, p < .05). Conclusions Our analysis provides a significant contribution to the existing literature on the relationship between living arrangements and PWB in China. We recognize that living with family or in an institution leads to better PWB than does living alone. In addition, financial support from the government can moderate this association.

An investigation of perceived family phubbing expectancy violations and well-being among U.S. older adults

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Travis Kadylak
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Expectancy Violations ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Checking Behavior

Phubbing refers to the nonverbal behavior of glancing at, or using, one’s mobile phone during a face-to-face (FtF) interaction, whereby the mobile-phone-checking behavior is perceived to breach expectations of attention or etiquette. In general, phubbing can negatively affect interpersonal relationships and well-being. When younger family members’ phubbing behavior is perceived by older adult relatives as a violation of their conversational expectations, these older adults may feel ignored and disrespected. This study may be the first to investigate the associations between intergenerational family phubbing expectancy violations and indicators of well-being among older adults. Survey data were derived from a sample of U.S. Internet users aged 65 or above ( n = 679). The results suggested that both perceived frequency of family phubbing and family phubbing expectancy violations were inversely associated with mattering and indicators of well-being. Study limitations and potential directions for future research are discussed.

The association between Internet use and health outcomes in the population of older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
K Szulc ◽  
M Duplaga
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Internet Users ◽  
Health Related ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The Internet has become one of the primary sources of health-related information. Less is known about the impact of Internet access and use on health-related outcomes in the older population, which frequently suffer from a digital divide. The main objective of this study was the assessment of the associations between Internet use and variables reflecting health status, the use of health services and health behaviours in the population at least 50 years old. Methods The analysis was carried out on the data set from the telephone-based survey in a sample of 1000 respondents representative for targeted age strata of Polish society. The effects of Internet use were assessed with logistic regression models after adjusting for key socioeconomic variables. Results Mean age (standard deviation) of respondents was 64.2 (9.6). In the study group, 51.1% respondents were Internet users, 19.4% - persons with disabilities, 21.2% were hospitalised at least once, and 51.0% visited health care facilities at least six times in preceding 12 months. The respondents being Internet users less frequently reported chronic diseases (OR, 95%CI: 0.21, 0.16-0.30), disability status (0.52, 0.37-0.72) and higher self-assessed health status (1.64, 1.24-2.16). They also less often used health services in the preceding 12 months (0.77, 0.60-0.99. Internet use was not associated with hospital admission in the preceding year (1.04, 0.76-1.41) and most of the health behaviours (smoking: 1.06, 0.77-1.45, physical activity: 0.85, 0.63-1.15, the consumption of fruits and vegetables: 0.73, 0.50-1.07). Interestingly, Internet users drunk more alcohol (1.52, 1.14-2.02). Conclusions In the population of older adults, the use of the Internet is associated with variables reflecting health status and the utilisation of health services. Higher health status and lower prevalence of chronic conditions among Internet users were found after adjusting for age and other socioeconomic factors. Key messages It was shown that Internet use may be related with more favourable health outcomes. The reported association should trigger further research on the impact of Internet in elderly persons.

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