Older Adults, Social Technologies, and the Coronavirus Pandemic: Challenges, Strengths, and Strategies for Support

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630512094816
Author(s):  
Ryan C. Moore ◽  
Jeffrey T. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Social Technologies ◽  
Additional Challenge

COVID-19 is a threat to everyone’s health but can be especially devastating to older individuals. To prevent spread of the virus, social distancing has become the norm worldwide. However, with social distancing comes significantly less face-to-face interaction, which may be particularly harmful to older adults given their existing levels of loneliness. While social technologies can be used to provide critical social interaction during this time of necessary physical distancing, older adults tend to either lack access to these technologies or the skills and experience necessary to use them effectively. Once online, older adults face the additional challenge of being outsized targets of misinformation and scams, both of which abound in the context of COVID-19. In this essay, we discuss the challenges faced by older adults in their use of digital media for social connection in the present pandemic, as well as highlight some of the population’s untapped strengths which can be leveraged to help them live prosperous online lives. Finally, we provide recommendations for actions which key stakeholders can take to support older adults in this pursuit.

scholarly journals Social Connection in Times of Physical Distancing

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 36-36
Author(s):  
Jeongeun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Mental Health Outcomes ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Current Effort ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Key Stakeholders

Abstract COVID-19 has been especially devastating to older adults. To prevent the spread of the virus, physical distancing has become the norm. As a result, there are fewer opportunities available for face-to-face interaction and social activities, which may be particularly harmful to older adults, given their existing loneliness levels. Thus, this symposium brings together a collection of papers that exemplify the interplay of social connection, activities, and mental health outcomes among older adults facing loneliness. The first paper will discuss how activity diversity is linked to higher loneliness and depressive symptoms among heterosexual and LGBTQ older adults. The second paper will present findings on the changes in social connectedness due to physical distancing and their associated impact on the mental health outcomes among older adults. The third paper will present qualitative findings on the effect of physical distancing on older adults' social connectedness using a mixed-method study. The final paper discusses the challenges faced by older adults in their use of digital media for social connection in the present pandemic and highlights some of the population's untapped strengths, which can be leveraged to help them live prosperous online lives. All papers will address practical tips and recommendations for actions, which key stakeholders can take to support older adults during the pandemic. The discussant, Dr. Kahana, will integrate the four papers and highlight the potential and limits of the current effort to address these issues and consider future inquiry routes.

scholarly journals Resilient Research in the Field: Insights and Lessons From Adapting Qualitative Research Projects During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 160940692110161
Author(s):  
Syahirah Abdul Rahman ◽  
Lauren Tuckerman ◽  
Tim Vorley ◽  
Cristian Gherhes
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Research Methods ◽  
Research Process ◽  
Qualitative Research Methods ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Building Resilience ◽  
Digital Methods

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has seen the implementation of unprecedented social distancing measures, restricting social interaction and with it the possibility for conducting face-to-face qualitative research. This paper provides lessons from a series of qualitative research projects that were adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure their continuation and completion. By reflecting on our experiences and discussing the opportunities and challenges presented by crises to the use of a number of qualitative research methods, we provide a series of insights and lessons for proactively building resilience into the qualitative research process. We show that reflexivity, responsiveness, adaptability, and flexibility ensured continuity in the research projects and highlighted distinct advantages to using digital methods, providing lessons beyond the COVID-19 context. The paper concludes with reflections on research resilience and adaptation during crises.

Vulnerable populations and misinformation: A mixed-methods approach to underserved older adults’ online information assessment

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482092504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunjin Seo ◽  
Matthew Blomberg ◽  
Darcey Altschwager ◽  
Hong Tien Vu
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Digital Divide ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Online Information ◽  
Message Content ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Significant Factors

This study examines how low-income African-American older adults, one of the groups most vulnerable to misinformation online, assess the credibility of online information. In examining this, we conducted both face-to-face interviews and a survey and then analyzed how their digital media use, demographics, self-efficacy, and involvement with particular topics were associated with their credibility assessments of online information. Our results suggest that education and topic involvement are statistically significant factors associated with assessments of message content and source credibility. Moreover, for our respondents, assessments of content credibility, as opposed to those of source credibility, were far more challenging. This research is one of the few studies examining online information credibility assessments made by low-income minority older adults. Theoretical and practical implications of our results are discussed in the context of misinformation, credibility assessment, and the digital divide.

scholarly journals Social Distancing vs Social Interaction for Older Adults at Long-Term Care Facilities in the Midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Rapid Review and Synthesis of Action Plans

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 ◽  
pp. 004695802110442
Author(s):  
Farhana Ferdous
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Rapid Review ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Care Facilities

The present study aimed to systematically analyze the impact of COVID-19-related social distancing requirements on older adults living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) and to synthesize the literature into thematic action plans to minimize the adverse effects of social isolation. The search included articles published between December 2019 and August 2020 across four databases. The inclusion criteria were used to screen for studies that reported on social isolation and loneliness due to the COVID-19 pandemic in older adults living in LTCFs. This rapid review identified 29 relevant studies and synthesized them into four thematic action plans: technological advancement, remote communication, therapeutic care/stress management, and preventive measures. These thematic action plans and cost-effective strategies can be immediately adopted and used as a resource for all LTCF administrators, healthcare design professionals, and researchers in battling current COVID-19-related issues, and improving social interaction in older adults living in care facilities.

scholarly journals I-CONECT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S224-S224
Author(s):  
Hiroko H Dodge ◽  
Jeffrey Kaye ◽  
Elena Goodrich ◽  
Jacob Lindsley ◽  
Mattie MacDonald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cognitive Domains ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Socially Isolated ◽  
Intervention Trials ◽  
User Friendly

Abstract In our previous NIH-funded randomized controlled behavioral clinical trial, we developed a conversation-based social interaction cognitive stimulation protocol delivered by trained interviewers through webcams and a user-friendly interactive Internet interface. Daily 30 minute face-to-face video-chats were conducted for 6 weeks. Despite a short duration, this proof of concept study demonstrated high adherence among older adults (mean age 80 years) and showed improvement in cognitive domains which tap language-based executive functions and semantic memory among the experimental group compared to the control group who did not engage in any video-chats. Building on these results, we are now conducting two NIH-funded projects (https://www.i-conect.org), targeting socially isolated older adults who are less likely to participate in clinical trials despite their high risk of cognitive decline. In this presentation, we introduce a series of projects outlined above and share the challenges and opportunities identified in our behavioral intervention trials focused on social interaction.

Decision making and mental health across adulthood during social distancing

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendra Leigh Seaman ◽  
Eric Juarez ◽  
Addison Troutman ◽  
Joanna Salerno ◽  
Silvia Samanez-Larkin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Contact ◽  
Temporal Discounting ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Mental Health Symptoms ◽  
Health Symptoms ◽  
Social Distancing

Covid-19-related social-distancing measures have dramatically limited physical social contact between individuals of all ages. We wondered how these new societal conditions would impact the choices of individuals of different ages and if social distancing measures would have a differential emotional impact on older individuals. Early media reports suggested that older adults were more likely to ignore social distancing guidelines. We conducted two online studies to examine temporal discounting of monetary, health, and social rewards, COVID-19 beliefs, social distancing behaviors, and mental health symptoms. We used the initial study (N = 233) to form our hypotheses about social distancing behaviors and we ran the second, pre-registered study (N = 243) to determine if these relationships replicated. We found that although older adults were more likely to prefer smaller, sooner (i.e., temporal discount) social and health-related rewards in decision-making tasks, there were no adult age differences in social distancing behavior. The increased motivation for immediate social contact in older age appears to be balanced by a similarly increased motivation for physical health. Although older adults reported being more likely to contract Covid-19 and experience more severe health consequences, they experienced fewer overall Covid-19-related mental health symptoms compared to younger adults. These data contradict media anecdotes and suggest that older adults are not only similarly compliant with distancing guidelines, but also are faring relatively better emotionally during the pandemic while overall mental health issues are higher than normal in the population.

scholarly journals Smartphone Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Social Versus Physical Distancing

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1034
Author(s):  
Meredith E. David ◽  
James A. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
Government Officials ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
The Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the globe. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, limiting face-to-face interaction is the best strategy for reducing the spread of COVID-19. We investigate the impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being, while also considering the moderating influence of smartphone use. In a survey of 400 students, the study presented herein finds that smartphone use attenuates the negative impact of social distancing on social connection and well-being. Contrary to popular sentiments regarding the influence of smartphone use on well-being, increased smartphone use during the pandemic may foster social connection and well-being. Overall, the research presented provides evidence that the perceived loss of social connection with others is not a de facto outcome of social distancing. The study’s findings have important implications for public policymakers, government officials, and others, including consumer researchers. These implications include stressing the important role technology can play in staying socially connected during the current pandemic and the importance of reframing “social distancing” as “physical distancing with social connectedness”.

scholarly journals The Influence of Social Communication during Covid-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-95
Author(s):  
Hamdani Hamdani ◽  
Misran Fuadi ◽  
Jufliwan Jufliwan ◽  
T. Mursal T. Mursal ◽  
Jamaluddin Jamaluddin
Keyword(s):  
Social Interaction ◽  
Social Communication ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Technological Information ◽  
Corona Virus ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
The Way

This paper presents on how social communication asserts its influence on social life during Corona Virus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Basically, communication is an important media where people build their relationship. The advance of technological information and communication has improved ways to communicate with the availability of media as an alternative of face-to-face communication. For this reason, this paper discusses approaches to social communication during the pandemic. The focus is on how communication changes since the beginning of Covid-19 pandemic. Such phenomenon has prompted distances among society which is known as social distancing. It is not to ban the moves of society, yet to prevent the spread of the virus by implementing the distance. Besides, it is significant to minimize social interaction due to a serious threat of Covid-19. In the case of Indonesia, country lockdown is not chosen to be implemented; yet, physical and social distancing is chosen as an effort to the pandemic prevention. Furthermore, strict health protocols in social interaction have been practiced and maintained during current new life era. Because social distancing is practiced widely, engaging in communicative activities using media has played important roles for society. As a result, technology plays a significant change in social communication that occurs in the way they communicate, how they think, and how they behave as social beings. 

EXPRESS: Age-related changes in gaze behavior during social interaction: an eye-tracking study with an embodied conversational agent

2020 ◽  
pp. 174702182098216
Author(s):  
Katarina Pavic ◽  
Ali Oker ◽  
Mohamed Chetouani ◽  
Laurence Chaby
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Virtual Agents ◽  
Conversational Agent ◽  
Gaze Behavior ◽  
Embodied Conversational Agent ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Gaze Behaviour

Previous research has highlighted age-related differences in social perception, in particular emotional expression processing. To date, such studies have largely focused on approaches that use static emotional stimuli that the participant has to identify passively without the possibility of any interaction. In this study, we propose an interactive virtual environment to better address age-related variations in social and emotional perception. A group of 22 young (18-30 years) and 20 older (60-80 years) adults were engaged in a face-to-face conversation with an embodied conversational agent. Participants were invited to interact naturally with the agent and to identify his facial expression. Their gaze behaviour was captured by an eye-tracking device throughout the interaction. We also explored whether the Big Five personality traits (particularly extraversion) and anxiety modulated gaze during the social interaction. Findings suggested that age-related differences in gaze behaviour was were only apparent when decoding social signals (i.e., listening to a partner's question, identifying facial expressions) and not when communicating social information (i.e. when speaking). Furthermore, higher extraversion levels consistently lead to a shorter amount of time gazing toward the eyes, whereas higher anxiety levels lead to slight modulations of gaze only when participants are were listening to questions. Face-to-face conversation with virtual agents can provide a more naturalistic framework for the assessment of online socio-emotional interaction in older adults, which is not easily observable in classical offline paradigms. This study provides novel and important insights into the specific circumstances in which older adults may experience difficulties in social interactions.

“I do it my way”: Idioms of practice and digital media ideologies of adolescents and older adults

2020 ◽  
pp. 146144482095929
Author(s):  
Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol ◽  
Francesca Belotti ◽  
Francesca Ieracitano ◽  
Simone Mulargia ◽  
Andrea Rosales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Focus Groups ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Older Individuals ◽  
Media Usage ◽  
Age Cohorts ◽  
Communication Practices ◽  
The Right ◽  
Media Choices

This article analyzes the idioms of practice and media ideologies of adolescents and older adults regarding mobile digital media usage, and how they are negotiated within and between age cohorts. We formed aged-based focus groups in Rome and Barcelona (four groups of 16- to 19-year-olds and four of 65- to 85-year-olds). The comparison provides new insights on older individuals’ communication practices, often overshadowed by the focus on youth. Participants of both age groups explained they do media in their own way, which is perceived as “the right” (or legitimate) way. Strategies and hierarchies differ with age, according to meanings and rankings attributed to media choices in a communicative environment of affordances, or polymedia. The results suggest that differentiated generation-based idioms of practice and media ideologies are in operation in each cohort while, in both cases, refer to adaptative and goal-oriented communications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document