Year: 2019
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The Internet is increasingly becoming an infrastructure for a number of services, both commercial, public (including health related) and personal. Using the internet have the potential to promote social interaction and social connectedness by upholding social networks and social contacts. However, Internet use is lower in older adults compared to other age groups. This digital divide is considered a risk to the health of older adults since it limits their participation in society, access and use of relevant health related information and services. This study focuses on whether there is an association between Internet use and self-rated health. METHOD: A cross-sectional population-based sample of 70-year-olds from The Gothenburg H70 Birth Cohort Study (n = 1136) was examined in 2014-16. All data was collected using structured interviews and questionnaires. Differences in proportions were tested with chi-square test and ordinary least square regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between Internet use and self-rated health controlling for health factors, hearing and visual impairment, and social contacts. RESULTS: There is a relationship between more frequent Internet use and good self-rated health (unstandardized β 0.101 p < 0.001), and the effect remained after adjusting for all covariates (unstandardized β 0.082 p < 0.001). Our results also show that, in comparison to health factors, Internet use is of minor importance to the SRH of older adults, since adding these improved the explanatory power of the model by approximately 400% (from 0.04 to 0.18). CONCLUSION: Although the direction of the relationship between more frequent interne use and better self-rated health is undetermined in the present study, it can be suggested that using the Internet informs and educates older adults, strengthening their position as active and engaged participants of society. It can also be suggested that those using the Internet report less loneliness and a possibility to establish new computer-mediated relationships within online communities. Further research needs to examine what aspects of Internet use, and in what contexts such positive perceptions arise.
Source: BMC Geriatrics
Language: English
Subfield: Demography
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,380
Funders: Gun och Bertil Stohnes Stiftelse, Stiftelsen för Gamla Tjänarinnor, Fredrik och Ingrid Thurings Stiftelse, Stiftelsen Handlanden Hjalmar Svenssons, Hjärnfonden, Vetenskapsrådet, Göteborgs Universitet, Konung Gustaf V:s och Drottning Victorias Frimurarestiftelse, Forskningsrådet om Hälsa, Arbetsliv och Välfärd, Stiftelsen Professor Bror Gadelius Minnesfond, Stiftelsen Systrarna Greta Johanssons och Brita Anderssons Minnesfond, Stiftelsen Söderström Königska Sjukhemmet, Eivind och Elsa K:son Sylvans stiftelse
Awards: G1186540381, G1702986283, G1714203265, G1776849529, Determinants and outcomes of depression and suicidal behavior in older adults, Mental and cognitive health in relation to functional ability and somatic health in the elderly. The influence of age, sex, birth cohort, genetic, psychological, social and neurobiological factors., G525443564, The baby-boomers and the new ageing. Birth cohorts born 1901-1944 are followed from age 70 to 75 regarding how physical, mental, cognitive, social, and functional ability changes with age, Suicidal behavior in older adults and the road back to life, G6500483005, G710651710, G712881263, G8880098891
OpenAlex ID: W2996652038