Yang Fang1, Anson K C Chau2, Helene H Fung2, Jean Woo3,4. 1. CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, yang.fang@link.cuhk.edu.hk. 2. Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong. 3. CUHK Jockey Club Institute of Ageing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Hong Kong. 4. Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Given findings that generally support the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) for older adults' psychosocial adjustment, one might surmise that lonely older adults, who have a stronger need for psychological support, would reap more psychosocial benefits from ICT use. However, scant research has examined this view, much less the likelihood that ICT use might worsen the psychological well-being of lonely older adults, as has been shown to be the case in younger adults. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the association between ICT use and psychological adjustment (i.e., psychological distress and sense of community [SOC]) among older adults depends on their loneliness levels. METHODS: A representative sample of 738 Hong Kong SAR Chinese older adults aged 60 years or older (56% female) was interviewed in 2017 on loneliness, frequency of ICT use (i.e., Internet and smart devices), psychological distress (6-item Kessler scale; K6), and SOC. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that loneliness significantly moderated the relationship between ICT use frequency and psychological adjustment (psychological distress and SOC); more frequent ICT use was associated with more psychological distress and less SOC, with higher levels of loneliness. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ICT use may be a mixed blessing for older adults, i.e., using more ICT might predict worse psychological adjustment among lonelier older adults. Efforts that promote ICT use among older adults should take their loneliness levels into account.
BACKGROUND: Given findings that generally support the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) for older adults' psychosocial adjustment, one might surmise that lonely older adults, who have a stronger need for psychological support, would reap more psychosocial benefits from ICT use. However, scant research has examined this view, much less the likelihood that ICT use might worsen the psychological well-being of lonely older adults, as has been shown to be the case in younger adults. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the association between ICT use and psychological adjustment (i.e., psychological distress and sense of community [SOC]) among older adults depends on their loneliness levels. METHODS: A representative sample of 738 Hong Kong SAR Chinese older adults aged 60 years or older (56% female) was interviewed in 2017 on loneliness, frequency of ICT use (i.e., Internet and smart devices), psychological distress (6-item Kessler scale; K6), and SOC. RESULTS: Regression analyses showed that loneliness significantly moderated the relationship between ICT use frequency and psychological adjustment (psychological distress and SOC); more frequent ICT use was associated with more psychological distress and less SOC, with higher levels of loneliness. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ICT use may be a mixed blessing for older adults, i.e., using more ICT might predict worse psychological adjustment among lonelier older adults. Efforts that promote ICT use among older adults should take their loneliness levels into account.
Authors: Luciana Kusumota; Maria Angélica Andreotti Diniz; Renato Mendonça Ribeiro; Iara Lesa Costa da Silva; Ana Laura Galhardo Figueira; Fernanda Resende Rodrigues; Rosalina Aparecida Partezani Rodrigues Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2022
Authors: Adèle Gauthier; Cécile Lagarde; France Mourey; Patrick Manckoundia Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-02 Impact factor: 3.390