The Benefits of Social Technology Use Among Older Adults Are Mediated by Reduced Loneliness

被引:311
作者
Chopik, William J. [1 ]
机构
[1] Michigan State Univ, Dept Psychol, 316 Phys Rd, E Lansing, MI 48824 USA
关键词
INTERNET USE; HEALTH; DEPRESSION; MORTALITY; PARTNERS; BEHAVIOR; PEOPLE;
D O I
10.1089/cyber.2016.0151
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Technology has the ability to enhance and enrich the lives of older adults by facilitating better interpersonal relationships. However, few studies have directly examined associations between technology use for social reasons and physical and psychological health among older adults. The current study examines the benefits of technology use in 591 older adults from the 2012 wave of the Health and Retirement Study (M-age = 68.18, SD = 10.75; 55.5% female). Social technology use was assessed through five technology-based behaviors (i.e., using e-mail, social networking sites, online video/phone calls, online chatting/instant messaging, using a smartphone). Attitudes toward the usability and benefits of technology use were also assessed. Older adults had generally positive attitudes toward technology. Higher social technology use was associated with better self-rated health, fewer chronic illnesses, higher subjective well-being, and fewer depressive symptoms. Furthermore, each of the links between social technology use and physical and psychological health was mediated by reduced loneliness. Close relationships are a large determinant of physical health and well-being, and technology has the potential to cultivate successful relationships among older adults.
引用
收藏
页码:551 / 556
页数:6
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [41] Worry about debt is related to social loneliness in older adults in the Netherlands
    Loibl, Cazilia
    Drost, Madeleine A.
    Huisman, Martijn
    Suanet, Bianca
    de Bruin, Wandi Bruine
    McNair, Simon
    Summers, Barbara
    AGEING & SOCIETY, 2022, 42 (12) : 2869 - 2891
  • [42] Combined effects of social isolation and loneliness on disability incidence in older adults
    Shimada, Hiroyuki
    Doi, Takehiko
    Tsutsumimoto, Kota
    Makino, Keitaro
    Harada, Kenji
    Tomida, Kouki
    Morikawa, Masanori
    Arai, Hidenori
    ARCHIVES OF GERONTOLOGY AND GERIATRICS, 2025, 131
  • [43] Facebook Use and Its Role in Shaping Access to Social Benefits among Older Adults
    Yu, Rebecca Ping
    Ellison, Nicole B.
    Lampe, Cliff
    JOURNAL OF BROADCASTING & ELECTRONIC MEDIA, 2018, 62 (01) : 71 - 90
  • [44] Loneliness Shapes the Relationship between Information and Communications Technology Use and Psychological Adjustment among Older Adults
    Fang, Yang
    Chau, Anson K. C.
    Fung, Helene H.
    Woo, Jean
    GERONTOLOGY, 2019, 65 (02) : 198 - 206
  • [45] Loneliness and social isolation of older adults: Why it is important to examine these social aspects together
    Newall, Nancy E. G.
    Menec, Verena H.
    JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, 2019, 36 (03) : 925 - 939
  • [46] Relationships of social isolation and loneliness with healthy aging among older adults
    Miao, Meng-Yuan
    Fang, Fei
    Lyu, Jie-Qiong
    Liu, Zhong-Yue
    Wan, Zhong-Xiao
    Qin, Li-Qiang
    Chen, Guo-Chong
    Wang, Hai-Peng
    BMC GERIATRICS, 2025, 25 (01)
  • [47] Loneliness of Older Adults: Social Network and the Living Environment
    Kemperman, Astrid
    van den Berg, Pauline
    Weijs-Perree, Minou
    Uijtdewillegen, Kevin
    INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH, 2019, 16 (03)
  • [48] The impact of technology on older adults' social isolation
    Khosravi, Pouria
    Rezvani, Azadeh
    Wiewiora, Anna
    COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR, 2016, 63 : 594 - 603
  • [49] Loneliness and Health Outcomes Among Malaysian Older Adults
    Hussein, Siti Zuhaida
    Ismail, Azera Hasra
    Abu Bakar, Suraya Hanim
    MAKARA JOURNAL OF HEALTH RESEARCH, 2021, 25 (02): : 87 - 93
  • [50] The Prevalence of Loneliness Among US Chinese Older Adults
    Simon, Melissa A.
    Chang, E-Shien
    Zhang, Manrui
    Ruan, Jenny
    Dong, XinQi
    JOURNAL OF AGING AND HEALTH, 2014, 26 (07) : 1172 - 1188