Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-5xszh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T12:39:33.629Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Internet Use and Psychological Wellness during Late Adulthood*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

Julie Erickson*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
Genevieve M. Johnson
Affiliation:
Curtin University of Technology
*
Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Julie Erickson, M.A. candidate Department of Psychology University of Manitoba 190 Dysart Rd. Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 (umeric27@cc.umanitoba.ca)

Abstract

An aging population is best served by social, personal, and health support focused on maintaining and maximizing personal independence. The Internet affords numerous opportunities for individuals of all ages to communicate, access information, and engage in recreational activities. A community-based sample of 122 adults over 60 years of age completed a questionnaire which assessed three clusters of characteristics: (a) frequency and patterns of Internet use, (b) well-being (loneliness, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, social support, and depression), and (c) demographics (age, income, education). Significant correlations emerged between the three clusters of measured variables. Controlling for demographic differences, Internet use and self-efficacy remained significantly related. Among the sample of older adults, individuals who used the Internet more had higher perceptions of self-efficacy than those who used the Internet rarely or not at all.

Résumé

Une population vieillissante est mieux servie par des services d’assistance socials, personnels et de la santé qui visent à maintenir et à maximiser l’autonomie personelle. L’Internet offre des opportunités nombreuses pour les individus de tous âges de commniquer, d’accéder aux informations, et de se livrer à des activités récréatives. Un échantillon à base communautaire de 122 adultes de plus de 60 ans ont rempli un questionnaire qui a évalué les trois groupes de caracteristiques : (a) la fréquence et les modes d’utilisation de l’Internet, (b) le bien-être (la solitude, la satisfaction de vie, l’auto-suffisance, les soutiens sociaux, et la dépression) et (c) les données démographiques (l’âge, le revenu, l’éducation). Des corrélations significatives sont apparues entre les trois groupes de variables mesurées. Tout en contrôlant les différences démographiques, l’utilisation d’Internet et de l’autosuffisance demeurent significativement corrélés. Parmi l’échantillon des personnes plus âgées, celles qui ont utilisé l’Internet plus présentaient une plus forte perception de leur efficacité que celles qui ont utilisé l’Internet que rarement ou pas du tout.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

*

Thank-you to Andrew Howell for much appreciated input.

References

Adams, N., Stubbs, D., & Woods, V. (2005). Psychological barriers to Internet usage among older adults in the UK. Medical Informatics and the Internet in Medicine, 30, 3–17. doi:10.1080/14639230500066876.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Agarwal, R., Sambamurthy, V., & Stair, R. (2000). Research report: The evolving relationship between general and specific computer self-efficacy- An empirical assessment. Information Systems Research, 11, 418–430. doi:10.1287/isre.11.4.418.11876.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arnaldi, S., Boscolo, F., & Stamm, J. (2010). Living the digital revolution – Exploration into the futures of the European society. European Review, 18, 399–416. doi:10.1017/S106279810000098.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency. American Psychologist, 37, 122–147. doi:10.1037//0003-066X.37.2.122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barger, S.D., Donoho, C.J., & Wayment, H.A. (2009). The relative contributions of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, health, and social relationships to life satisfaction in the United States. Quality of Life Research, 18, 179–189. doi:10.1007/s11136-008-9426-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Beck, A., Steer, R., & Brown, G. (1996). Manual for the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). San Antonio, TX: Psychological Corporation.Google Scholar
Blit-Cohen, E., & Litwin, H. (2005). Computer utilization in later-life: Characteristics and relationship to personal well-being. Gerotechnology, 3, 138–148.Google Scholar
Charness, N., & Boot, W.R. (2009). Aging and information technology use: Potentials and barriers. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18, 253–258. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01647.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, Y., & Persson, A. (2002). Internet use among young and older adults: Relation to psychological well-being. Educational Gerontology, 28, 731–744. doi:10.1080=03601270290099921.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cheung, H., & Chan, A. (2009). The effect of education on life satisfaction across countries. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 55, 124–136.Google Scholar
Chow, H.P. (2010). Growing old in Canada: Physical and psychological well-being among elderly Chinese immigrants. Ethnicity and Health, 15, 61–72. doi:10.1080/13557850903418810.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Chu, A., Huber, J., Mastel-Smith, B., & Cesario, S. (2009). Partnering with seniors for better health: Computer use and Internet health information retrieval among older adults in a low socioeconomic community. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 97, 12–20. doi:10.3163/1536-5050.97.1.003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cody, M.J., Dunn, D., Hoppin, S., & Wendt, P. (1999). Silver surfers: Training and evaluating Internet use among older adult learners. Communication Education, 48, 269–286. doi:10.1080/03634529909379178.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coen, R.F., Swanwick, G.R.J., O’Boyle, C.A., & Coakley, D. (1997). Behaviour disturbance and other predictors of carer burden in Alzheimer’s Disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 12, 331–336. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1166(199703)12:3<331::AID-GPS495>3.0.CO;2-J.3.0.CO;2-J>CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Czaja, S., Charness, N., Fisk, A., Hertzog, C., Nair, S., Rogers, W., et al. . (2006). Factors predicting the use of technology: Findings from the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE). Psychology and Aging, 21, 333–352. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.21.2.333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deci, E.L., & Ryan, R.M. (2008). Hedonia, eudaimonia, and well-being: An introduction. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 1–11. doi:10.1007/s10902-006-9018-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickinson, A., & Gregor, P. (2006). Computer use has no demonstrated impact on the well-being of older adults. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 64, 744–753. doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2006.03.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575. doi:10.1037//0033-2909.95.3.542.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellison, N.B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook ‘friends’: Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12, 1143–1168. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flynn, K.E., Smith, M.A., & Freese, J. (2006). When do older adults turn to the Internet for health information? Findings from the Wisconsin longitudinal study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21, 1295–1301. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00622.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fox, S. (2004 March). Older Americans and the Internet. Retrieved April 11, 2011 from Pew Internet and American Life Project website: http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media//Files/Reports/2004/PIP_Seniors_Online_2004.pdf.pdfGoogle Scholar
Freyne, A., Keough, F., Kelly, M., & Wrigley, M. (2005). A longitudinal study of depression in old age II: Depression and physical disability. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 22, 94–100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
George, L. (2010). Still happy after all these years: Research frontiers on subjective well-being in later life. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 65B, 331–339. doi:10.1093/geronb/gbq006.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerstorf, D., Ram, N., Rocke, C., Lindenberger, U., & Smith, J. (2008). Decline in life satisfaction in old age: Longitudinal evidence for links to distance-to-death. Psychology and Aging, 23, 154–168. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.23.1.154.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, L.R., Richardson, D.S., Lago, T., & Schatten-Jones, E.C. (2001). Network correlates of social and emotional loneliness in younger and older adults. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 27, 281–288. doi:10.1177/0146167201273002.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Greenfield, E., & Marks, N. (2004). Formal volunteering as a protective factor for older adults’ psychological well-being. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 59B, S258–S264.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartshorne, T. S. (1993). Psychometric properties and confirmatory factor analysis of the UCLA loneliness scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 61, 182–195. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa6101_14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Helms, E., Goffin, R., & Chrisjohn, R. (1998). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Life Satisfaction Index. Social Indicators Research, 45, 371–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Igbaria, M., & Iivari, J. (1995). The effects of self-efficacy on computer usage. Omega, 23, 587–605. doi:10.1016/0305-0483(95)00035-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jang, Y., Borenstein, A., Chiriboga, D., Phillips, K., & Mortimer, J. (2006). Religiosity, adherence to traditional culture, and psychological well-being among African American elders. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 25, 343–355. doi:10.1177/0733464806291934.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, G.M. (2007). College student Internet use: Convenience and amusement. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 33, 141–157. Retrieved April 14, 2011 fromhttp://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, G.M. (2008). Cognitive processing differences between frequent and infrequent Internet users. Computers and Human Behavior, 24, 2094–2106. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2007.10.001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Johnson, G., & Puplampu, K. (2008). Internet use during childhood and the ecological techno-subsystem. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology, 34, 19–28. Retrieved April 11, 2011 fromhttp://www.cjlt.ca/index.php/cjlt/article/view/172/168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, S., & Fox, S. (2009, January). Generations online in 2009. Retrieved from Pew Internet and American Life Project website: http://pewinternet.org/Reports/2009/Generations-Online-in-2009.aspxGoogle Scholar
Kaplan, G., Shema, A., & Leite, C. (2008). Socioeconomic determinants of psychological well-being: The role of income, income change, and income sources during the course of 29 years. Annals of Epidemiology, 18, 531–537. doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2008.03.006.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Karavidas, M., Lim, N., & Katsikas, S. (2005). The effects of computers on older adult users. Computers and Human Behavior, 21, 697–711. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2004.03.012.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaye, H.S. (2000). Computer and internet use among people with disabilities. Disability Statistics Report (13). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.Google Scholar
Keyes, C.L.M., Shmotkin, D., Ryff, C.D. (2002). Optimizing well-being: The empirical encounter of two traditions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 82, 1007–1022. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.82.6.1007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laukka, P. (2007). Uses of music and psychological well-being among the elderly. Journal of Happiness Studies, 8, 215–241. doi:10.1007/s10902-006-9024-3.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Litwin, H., & Shiovitz-Ezra, S. (2010). Social network type and subjective well-being in a national sample of older Americans. The Gerontologist. Advance online publication. doi:10.1093/geront/gnq094Google Scholar
Lyyra, T., Tormakangas, T., Read, S., Rantanen, T., & Berg, S. (2006). Satisfaction with present life predicts survival in octogenarians. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, 319–326.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mahon, N., Yarcheski, T., & Yarcheski, A. (1995). Validation of the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale for adolescents. Research in Nursing and Health, 18, 263–270. doi:10.1002/nur.4770180309.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martini, E.M., Garrett, N., Lindquist, T., & Isham, G.J. (2007). The boomers are coming: A total cost of care model of the impact of population aging on health care costs in the United States by major practice category. Health Services Research, 42, 201–218. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00607.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McAuley, E., Konopack, J., Morris, K., Motl, R., Hu, L., Doerksen, S., et al. . (2006). Physical activity and functional limitations in older women: Influence of self-efficacy. Journals of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 61B, 270–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Menec, V. (2003). The relation between everyday activities and successful aging: A 6-year longitudinal study. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 58B, S74–S82.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Institutes of Health (2007). Why population aging matters: A global perspective. Retrieved April 11, 2011 fromhttp://www.nia.nih.gov/NR/rdonlyres/9E91407E-CFE8-4903-9875-D5AA75BD1D50/0/WPAM.pdf.Google Scholar
Neugarten, B., Havinghurst, R., & Tobin, S. (1961). The measurement of life satisfaction. Journal of Gerontology, 16, 134–143.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
O’Reilly, B. (1995). The Social Support Appraisal Scale: Construct validation for psychiatric inpatients. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 51, 37–42.Google Scholar
Peacock, S.E., & Kunemund, H. (2007). Senior citizens and Internet technology: Reasons and correlates of access and non-access in a European comparative perspective. European Journal of Ageing, 4, 191–200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Penedo, F., & Dahn, J. (2005). Exercise and well-being: A review of mental and physical health benefits associated with physical activity. Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 18, 189–193. doi:10.1097/00001504-200503000-00013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Pinquart, M., & Sorensen, S. (2001). Gender differences in self-concept and psychological well-being in old age. Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 56B, 195–213. doi:10.1093/geronb/56.4.P195.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prohaska, T., Belansky, E., Belza, B., Buchner, D., Marshall, V., McTigue, K., et al. . (2006). Physical health, public health and aging: Critical issues and research priorities. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 61B, S267–S273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Richter, P., Werner, J., Heerlein, A., Kraus, A., & Sauer, H. (1998). On the validity of the Beck Depression Inventory. Psychopathology, 31, 161–168. doi:10.1159/000066239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, D., Peplau, L., & Cutrona, C. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472–480. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.39.3.472.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryan, A., & Willitis, F. (2007). Family ties, physical health, and psychological well-being. Journal of Aging and Health, 19, 907–920. doi:10.1177/0898264307308340.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ryff, C.D. (1995). Psychological well-being in adult life. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4, 99–104. doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772395.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ryff, C.D., & Singer, B.H. (2008). Know thyself and become what you are: A eudaimonic approach to psychological well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies, 9, 13–29. doi:10.1007/s10902-006-9019-0.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schaie, K. (1996). Intellectual development in adulthood: The Seattle Longitudinal Study. New York: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Scogin, F., Welsh, D., Hanson, A., Stump, J., & Coates, A. (2005). Evidence-based psychotherapies for depression in older adults. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12, 222–237. doi:10.1093/clipsy.bpi033.Google Scholar
Seeman, T., Lusignolo, T., Albert, M., & Berkman, L. (2001). Social relationships, social support, and patterns of cognitive aging in healthy, high-functioning older adults: MacArthur studies of successful aging. Health Psychology, 20, 243–255. doi:10.1037/0278-6133.20.4.243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Seeman, T., McAvay, G., Merrill, S., Albert, M., & Rodin, J. (1996). Self-efficacy beliefs and change in cognitive performance: MacArthur studies on successful aging. Psychology and Aging, 11, 538–551. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.11.3.538.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Segal, D.L., Coolidge, F.L., Cahill, B.S., & O’Reilly, A.A. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) among community-dwelling older adults. Behavior Modification, 32, 3–20. doi:10.1177/0145445507303833.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shapira, N., Barak, A., & Gal, I. (2007). Promoting older adults’ well-being through Internet training and use. Aging and Mental Health, 11, 477–484. doi: 10.1080/13607860601086546CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sherer, M., Maddox, J., Mercandante, B., Prentice-Dunn, S., Jacobs, B., & Rogers, R. (1982). The Self-Efficacy Scale: Construction and validation. Psychological Reports, 51, 663–671.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Singh, N.A., Stavrinos, T.M., Scarbek, Y., Galambos, G., Liber, C., & Fiatarone-Singh, M.A. (2005). A randomized controlled trial of high versus low-intensity weight training versus general practitioner care for clinical depression in older adults. The Journals of Gerontology: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 60, 768–776.Google ScholarPubMed
Slegers, K., van Boxtel, M.P.J., & Jolles, J. (2008). Effects of computer training and Internet usage on the well-being and quality of life of older adults: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 63B, 176–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Slegers, K., van Boxtel, M.P.J., & Jolles, J. (2009). Effects of computer training and Internet usage on cognitive abilities in older adults: A randomized controlled study. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 21, 43–54.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Slocum-Gori, S.L., Zumbo, B.D., Michalos, A.C., & Diener, E. (2009). A note on the dimensionality on the Quality of Life Scales: An illustration with the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Social Indicators Research, 92, 489–492. doi:10.1007/s11205-008-9303-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Springer, K., Hauser, R., & Freese, J. (2006). Bad news indeed for Ryff’s six factor model of psychological well-being. Social Science Research, 35, 1120–1131. doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2006.01.003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistics Canada (2007). Edmonton, Alberta (Code4811061) (table). 2006 Community Profiles. 2006 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 92-591-XWE. Ottawa. Released March 13, 2007. Retrieved April 11, 2011 fromhttp://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/index.cfm?Lang=EGoogle Scholar
Statistics Canada (2009). Online activities of Canadian boomers and seniors (Report No.11–008X). Retrieved April 11, 2011 fromhttp://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/11-008-x/2009002/article/10910-eng.pdfGoogle Scholar
Steer, R., Rissmiller, D., & Beck, A. (2000). Use of the Beck Depression Inventory-II with depressed geriatric inpatients. Behavior Research and Therapy, 38, 311–318. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(99)00068-6.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sum, S., Mathews, R.M., & Hughes, I. (2009). Participation of older adults in cyber space: How Australian older adults use the Internet. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 28, 189–193. doi:10.1111/j.1741-6612.2009.00374.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sum, S., Mathews, R.M., Hughes, I., & Campbell, A. (2008). Internet use and loneliness in older adults. CyberPsychology and Behavior, 11, 208–211. doi:10.1089/cpb.2007.0010.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sum, S., Mathews, R.M., Pourghasem, M.M., & Hughes, I. (2008). Internet technology and social capital: How the Internet affects seniors’ social capital and well-being. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14, 202–220. doi:10.1111/j.1083-6101.2008.01437.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thayer, S.E., & Ray, S. (2006). Online communication preferences across age, gender, and duration of internet use. Cyberpsychology and Behavior, 9, 432–440. doi:10.1089/cpb.2006.9.432.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
van de Mortel, T. (2008). Faking it: Social desirability response bias in self-report research. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 25, 40–48.Google Scholar
Van Willigen, M. (2000). Differential benefits of volunteering across the life course. Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences, 55B, S308–S318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vaux, A., Phillips, J., Holly, L., Thomson, B., Williams, D., & Stewart, D. (1986). The Social Support Appraisals (SSA) Scale: Studies of reliability and validity. American Journal of Community Psychology, 14, 195–219. doi:10.1007/BF00911821.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wagner, N., Hassanein, K., & Head, M. (2010). Computer-use by older adults: A multidisciplinary review. Computers in Human Behavior, 26, 870–882. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2010.03.029.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wallace, K., & Wheeler, A. (2002). Reliability generalization of the Life Satisfaction Index. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 62, 674–684.doi:10.1177/0013164402062004009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Waterman, A.S. (1993). Two conceptions of happiness: Contrasts of personal expressiveness (eudaemonia) and hedonic enjoyment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64, 678–691. doi:10.1037//0022-3514.64.4.678.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Windsor, T.D., Anstey, K.J., & Rodgers, B. (2008). Volunteering and psychological well-being among young-old adults: How much is too much? The Gerontologist, 48, 59–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wright, K. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. Journal of Communication, 50, 100–118. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.2000.tb02855.xsss.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, D.W., & Hill, T.J. (2009). Prescription for trouble: Medicare part D and patterns of computer and Internet access among the elderly. Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 21, 172–186. doi: 10.1080/08959420902732514.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yang, Y. (2008). Social inequalities in happiness in the United States, 1972-2004: An age-period-cohort analysis. American Sociological Review, 73, 204–226. doi: 10.1177/000312240807300202.CrossRefGoogle Scholar