Not So Lonely Surfers: Loneliness, Social Support, Internet Use and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Shillair, R.J.; Rikard, R.V.; Cotten, S.R.; Tsai, H.Y.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/73666 Copy

Description

Title

Not So Lonely Surfers: Loneliness, Social Support, Internet Use and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Author(s)

• Shillair, R.J.
• Rikard, R.V.
• Cotten, S.R.
• Tsai, H.Y.

Issue Date

2015-03-15

Keyword(s)

• human information behavior
• health informtics
• community informatics

Abstract

Older adults often encounter diminished social support, loneliness and lower life satisfaction levels. Many of these struggles stem from a loss of social interaction with social network ties that are important to them. Information and communication technology (ICT) use offers promise in helping them maintain their social ties. In this longitudinal study, participants included 306 older adults in 19 different assisted and independent living communities. Through random assignment at the community level, residents were offered ICT training, interaction with trainees (placebo), and a survey only control condition with no interaction. Residents in each group were surveyed at pretest, posttest, and 3, 6, and 12 months post training. This analysis examines the use of the Internet as a tool for stress buffering to maintain and enrich social ties, reducing the impact of loneliness and improving life satisfaction measures. Significant interactions were found between ICT attitudes and loneliness, social support and life satisfaction.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2015 Proceedings

Type of Resource

text

Language

English

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/73666

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Copyright 2015 is held by the authors. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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