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Braga C, Saad KR, Koike MK. The influence of the internet on choices about older adults' health and well-being. Rev Bras Enferm 2024; 77:e20230321. [PMID: 38747746 PMCID: PMC11095947 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to describe the profile of older adults who access the internet to search for health information and identify the factors that can influence older adults' decisions about their health based on information collected online. METHODS 391 older adults answered an online questionnaire regarding habits and satisfaction with information about health collected on the internet. Data processing involved Logistic Regression. RESULTS higher education reduces by 44% the likelihood of an older adult following the health recommendations on internet sites. However, social activities and self-perceived health increase the possibility of following the recommendations by 83% and 71%, respectively. The belief that the internet promotes healthy habits increases by 29.2 times the probability of an older adult following the advice. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS knowing the profile of older adults who use the Internet can help professionals formulate public policies and build good information platforms on health and well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Braga
- Instituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Karen Ruggeri Saad
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco. Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Marcia Kiyomi Koike
- Instituto de Assistência Médica ao Servidor Público Estadual de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Universidade de São Paulo. São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Shekelle PG, Miake-Lye IM, Begashaw MM, Booth MS, Myers B, Lowery N, Shrank WH. Interventions to Reduce Loneliness in Community-Living Older Adults: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:1015-1028. [PMID: 38200279 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08517-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The problem of loneliness has garnered increased attention from policymakers, payors, and providers due to higher rates during the pandemic, particularly among seniors. Prior systematic reviews have in general not been able to reach conclusions about effectiveness of interventions. METHODS Computerized databases were searched using broad terms such as "loneliness" or "lonely" or "social isolation" or "social support" from Jan 1, 2011 to June 23, 2021. We reference mined existing systematic reviews for additional and older studies. The Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network database and Google were searched for gray literature on Feb 4, 2022. Eligible studies were RCTs and observational studies of interventions to reduce loneliness in community-living adults that used a validated loneliness scale; studies from low- or middle-income countries were excluded, and studies were excluded if restricted to populations where all persons had the same disease (such as loneliness in persons with dementia). RESULTS A total of 5971 titles were reviewed and 60 studies were included in the analysis, 36 RCTs and 24 observational studies. Eleven RCTs and 5 observational studies provided moderate certainty evidence that group-based treatment was associated with reduced loneliness (standardized mean difference for RCTs = - 0.27, 95% CI - 0.48, - 0.08). Five RCTs and 5 observational studies provided moderate certainty evidence that internet training was associated with reduced loneliness (standardized mean difference for RCTs = - 0.22, 95% CI - 0.30, - 0.14). Low certainty evidence suggested that group exercises may be associated with very small reductions in loneliness. Evidence was insufficient to reach conclusions about group-based activities, individual in-person interactions, internet-delivered interventions, and telephone-delivered interventions. DISCUSSION Low-to-moderate certainty evidence exists that group-based treatments, internet training, and possibly group exercises are associated with modest reductions in loneliness in community-living older adults. These findings can inform the design of supplemental benefits and the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address loneliness. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER PROSPERO ( CRD42021272305 ).
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Shekelle
- Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
- General Internal Medicine 111G, West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Isomi M Miake-Lye
- Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Meron M Begashaw
- Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Marika S Booth
- RAND Corporation, Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Bethany Myers
- Louise M. Darling Biomedical Library, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Zarling A, Kim J, Russell D, Cutrona C. Increasing Older Adults' Social Connectedness: Development and Implementation of a Web-Assisted Acceptance and Commitment Therapy-Based Intervention. JMIR Aging 2024; 7:e47943. [PMID: 38647321 PMCID: PMC11058557 DOI: 10.2196/47943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In this article, we will provide a rationale for a web-assisted acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) approach to loneliness among older adults, drawing upon theories from the literature on adult development and aging, emotion regulation, and loneliness. The intervention program was developed using the principles of ACT, which is a cognitive behavioral approach and unified model of human behavior change and psychological growth. The ACT intervention focuses on developing nonjudgmental present-focused awareness of internal experiences (thoughts, emotions, and memories) through strategies such as acceptance and mindfulness rather than directly modifying or removing them per se. The ACT intervention appears well-suited to assist older adults in coping with the challenges of aging, as the focus is on an individual’s willingness to sit with internal experiences out of one’s control (ie, acceptance), stepping back from negative or critical thoughts and developing greater kindness toward oneself (ie, defusion), discerning what is most important to one’s true self (ie, values), and building larger patterns of effective action based on such values (ie, committed action). The ACT intervention was developed as a resource for older adults who are socially isolated or having difficulty with social connectedness. Eight modules comprise the web-assisted ACT intervention program, which includes reading materials, video clips, and activities. Each module is followed by a summary, a homework assignment, a short quiz to assess learning, and a moderated discussion with a coach. The intervention program begins with reconnecting participants with their values. The goal of the ACT intervention program is to foster flexibility in a participant’s behavior so they can behave consistently with their chosen values, rather than becoming locked into a pattern of behavior that is driven by avoiding distress or discomfort. The ACT intervention approach is both novel and innovative, as it is based on ACT and leverages a behavioral health web platform that is flexible and inclusive in its design. The ACT intervention aims to help older adults become more socially connected, less lonely, and more satisfied with their relationships with other people. The emphasis that ACT places on values and living life in accordance with one’s values renders it an approach ideally suited to older adults. Finally, recommendations for future research regarding this approach to addressing loneliness among older adults is addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amie Zarling
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Joseph Kim
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Daniel Russell
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
| | - Carolyn Cutrona
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, United States
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4
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Tripathi A, Samanta T. Third Agers in India: Empirical Evidence From Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017-2018. J Appl Gerontol 2024; 43:423-436. [PMID: 38087857 DOI: 10.1177/07334648231207465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Given that the ontological origins of the Third Age lie in the cultural logics of social class, consumer society and "habitus," a majority of its gerontological examination is qualitative in nature. We utilize the recently released Longitudinal Aging Study in India (2017-2018) and harness the time-use module to offer an empirical portrait of Third Agers in India. Considering that the aging scholarship in India has been often articulated in the empirical language of dependency, care regimes, and (economic) insecurity, we believe this examination allows us to shift the gerontological gaze from a risk perspective to one that is positive and affirmative. Following an exploratory factor analysis and nested linear regression, we corroborate the emergence of a "silver market" where educated, urban, affluent, and professionally qualified older Indians are the ones who are more likely to engage in active leisure pursuits. Noteworthy is the combined effects of wealth and professional education in determining who is ultimately able to "purchase" leisure in a highly segmented emerging senior market. In all, we conclude by discussing how these findings upend our cultural imagination around growing old in contemporary India.
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Ferguson L, Kürüm E, Rodriguez TM, Nguyen A, Lopes de Queiroz IF, Lee J, Wu R. Impact of community-based technology training with low-income older adults. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:638-645. [PMID: 37702149 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2256271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Compared with younger and middle-aged adults, older adults are less likely to adopt new computer technology, potentially limiting access to healthcare and many other important resources available online. This limitation could impact cognitive abilities, well-being, and mental health outcomes of older adults. The aims of the present study were to increase access to online county and healthcare resources, while also assessing the impact of technology access on cognitive functioning and multiple well-being domains. METHODS A pilot community collaboration provided a two-month tablet training intervention, focused on increasing digital independence via tablet navigation, resources access, and fraud and scam prevention, to 20 low-income older adult participants (75% female, Mage = 70.85). Pre- and post-test phone interviews were conducted to measure any changes in digital independence, cognitive abilities, well-being, mental health, and mindset. RESULTS Linear mixed effects models revealed no significant changes in outcome measures from pre- to post-test. However, we found effects of digital independence on several well-being measures, providing important information for the impact of technology access and training for low-income older adults. CONCLUSION This pilot intervention offers limited but promising results, inspiring further investigations that may inform public health and policy services to address barriers to access and potentially improve psychological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah Ferguson
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Esra Kürüm
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Tania M Rodriguez
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Nguyen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Isadora Farias Lopes de Queiroz
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
- Department of Psychology, Hollins University, Roanoke, VA, USA
| | - Jewel Lee
- Riverside County Office on Aging, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Wu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
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6
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Zhang C, Zhang Y, Wang Y. A study on Internet use and subjective well-being among Chinese older adults: based on CGSS (2012-2018) five-wave mixed interface survey data. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1277789. [PMID: 38249375 PMCID: PMC10799343 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1277789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective This study is designed to investigate the relationship between Internet use and subjective well-being of the older adults in China, and to analyze the mediating role of subjective social fairness in the above relationship. Methods Based on the five-wave mixed interface survey data of China General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018, we select a total of 18,458 older adults aged 60 and above, and comprehensively used ordered probit regression, propensity score matching (PSM), and Karlson-Holm-Breen (KHB) mediating effect test methods. Results The analysis results show that (1) Internet use is significantly positively correlated with the subjective well-being of the older adults, and the higher the frequency of use, the stronger the subjective well-being. (2) Place of residence, education, and regional factors moderated the effect of Internet use on subjective well-being. The subjective well-being effect of Internet use is significant among male older adults, as well as on urban, educated, or eastern older adults. (3) Subjective social fairness plays a negative mediating role in the relationship between Internet use and subjective well-being of older adults. Conclusion The findings suggest that Internet use contributes to the improvement of subjective well-being in older adults, but attenuates this effect by reducing the subjective social fairness. Future research should further consider other factors such as the purpose, specific function, intensity of Internet use, etc., to gain a deeper understanding of how the Internet can help promote well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Zhang
- Institute of Network Social Governance, School of Marxism, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- School of Economics and Trade, Guangdong University of Finance, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- School of Law and Sociology, Xihua University, Chengdu, China
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van der Ploeg M, Blankinship B. Online language learning in the third-age: Concrete recommendations to improve seniors' learning experiences. GERONTOLOGY & GERIATRICS EDUCATION 2024; 45:114-124. [PMID: 36351502 DOI: 10.1080/02701960.2022.2143357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Online activities have spiked due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including language learning activities. As the world is aging, this affects senior citizens too. Yet, few studies have been conducted studying online (language) learning in this age-group. Moreover, no concrete pointers exist on how to go about such an online language learning course. This paper examines what should be considered when designing and implementing online language learning courses for seniors. To that end we present data from 73 senior language learners from two independent language learning contexts: the Netherlands and Scotland. The data were collected between May 2020 and August 2021. Data includes spoken and written samples from lessons, focus groups, interviews and questionnaires. Given the qualitative nature of the data and the aim of identifying patterns of meaning across the respective datasets, a reflexive thematic analysis (TA) approach was adopted. We employed an inductive approach to coding, using both semantic (explicit or overt) and latent (implicit, underlying) coding frameworks, in order to inform two overarching themes: "Navigating the digital highway" and "Camera ready for new friends." We discuss these themes and their sub-themes and arrive at concrete recommendations for the third-age language learning classroom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara van der Ploeg
- Center for Language and Cognition, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Brittany Blankinship
- School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
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8
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Lee S. Internet Use and Well-Being of Older Adults Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings from European Social Survey. JOURNAL OF GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIAL WORK 2024; 67:96-113. [PMID: 37246398 DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2023.2217682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The present study examined older adults' use of digital technology and its relation to perceived well-being before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. Three cross-sectional survey data from the European Social Survey (ESS) were employed including ESS8-2016 (n = 10,618, Mean age = 73.59 ± 6.76 years; 54.4% female), ESS9-2018 (n = 13,532, Mean age = 73.85 ± 6.58 years; 55.9% female), and ESS10-2020 (n = 4,894, Mean age = 73.49 ± 6.40 years; 59.0% female). Results showed that there was a tendency to increase Internet use on a daily basis across different European countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Old age, low education, being widowed, and living in a household with more than five household members were salient factors that are correlated with lower levels of Internet use. Internet use was positively associated with happiness and life satisfaction, and negatively associated with poor general health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunwoo Lee
- The Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
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9
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Zhang Y, Guo Y, Li M. The moderating effect of intergenerational relationships on the association between Internet engagement and mental well-being. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:36-44. [PMID: 37139965 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2023.2207479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study examined the moderating effect of intergenerational relationships on the association between Internet engagement and older Chinese adults' mental well-being and whether this relationship and the moderating role of intergenerational relationships differs by age. METHODS We collected survey data from 1,162 participants aged 60 and older. Using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to measure life satisfaction, the Chinese version of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale to evaluate loneliness, and the Intergenerational Relationship Quality Scale for Aging Chinese Parents (IRQS-AP) to assess intergenerational relationship quality. Two-stage least squares regression with interaction terms was used to examine the moderating effect of intergenerational relationships on the association between Internet engagement and mental well-being in different age groups. RESULTS Higher levels of Internet engagement were significantly associated with better life satisfaction and lower loneliness in older adults, particularly for the young-old. Furthermore, the positive association between Internet engagement and mental well-being was stronger for older adults with conflicted or detached intergenerational relationships. CONCLUSIONS Encouraging and training older adults to use the Internet to shrink the digital divide, developing a sound Internet infrastructure, providing low-cost Internet services, particularly for the young-old with conflicted or detached intergenerational relationships, and the old-old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinkai Zhang
- Department of Social Work & Social Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu Guo
- School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Mengting Li
- School of Labor and Human Resources, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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Welch V, Ghogomu ET, Barbeau VI, Dowling S, Doyle R, Beveridge E, Boulton E, Desai P, Huang J, Elmestekawy N, Hussain T, Wadhwani A, Boutin S, Haitas N, Kneale D, Salzwedel DM, Simard R, Hébert P, Mikton C. Digital interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness in older adults: An evidence and gap map. CAMPBELL SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2023; 19:e1369. [PMID: 38024780 PMCID: PMC10681039 DOI: 10.1002/cl2.1369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Social isolation and loneliness are more common in older adults and are associated with a serious impact on their well-being, mental health, physical health, and longevity. They are a public health concern highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, hence the need for digital technology tools to enable remotely delivered interventions to alleviate the impact of social isolation and loneliness during the COVID-19 restrictions. Objectives To map available evidence on the effects of digital interventions to mitigate social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults in all settings except hospital settings. Search Methods We searched the following databases from inception to May 16, 2021, with no language restrictions. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycInfo via Ovid, CINAHL via EBSCO, Web of Science via Clarivate, ProQuest (all databases), International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS) via ProQuest, EBSCO (all databases except CINAHL), Global Index Medicus, and Epistemonikos. Selection Criteria Titles and abstracts and full text of potentially eligible articles were independently screened in duplicate following the eligibility criteria. Data Collection and Analysis We developed and pilot tested a data extraction code set in Eppi-Reviewer and data were individually extracted and coded based on an intervention-outcome framework which was also used to define the dimensions of the evidence and gap map. Main Results We included 200 articles (103 primary studies and 97 systematic reviews) that assessed the effects of digital interventions to reduce social isolation and/or loneliness in older adults. Most of the systematic reviews (72%) were classified as critically low quality, only 2% as high quality and 25% were published since the COVID-19 pandemic. The evidence is unevenly distributed with clusters predominantly in high-income countries and none in low-income countries. The most common interventions identified are digital interventions to enhance social interactions with family and friends and the community via videoconferencing and telephone calls. Digital interventions to enhance social support, particularly socially assistive robots, and virtual pets were also common. Most interventions focused on reducing loneliness and depression and improving quality of life of older adults. Major gaps were identified in community level outcomes and process indicators. No included studies or reviews assessed affordability or digital divide although the value of accessibility and barriers caused by digital divide were discussed in three primary studies and three reviews. Adverse effects were reported in only two studies and six reviews. No study or review included participants from the LGBTQIA2S+ community and only one study restricted participants to 80 years and older. Very few described how at-risk populations were recruited or conducted any equity analysis to assess differences in effects for populations experiencing inequities across PROGRESS-Plus categories. Authors' Conclusions The restrictions placed on people during the pandemic have shone a spotlight onto social isolation and loneliness, particularly for older adults. This evidence and gap map shows available evidence on the effectiveness of digital interventions for reducing social isolation or loneliness in older adults. Although the evidence is relatively large and recent, it is unevenly distributed and there is need for more high-quality research. This map can guide researchers and funders to consider areas of major gaps as priorities for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Welch
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | | | | | - Sierra Dowling
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | | | - Ella Beveridge
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Elisabeth Boulton
- School of Health Sciences, Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social WorkUniversity of ManchesterManchesterUK
| | - Payaam Desai
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | - Jimmy Huang
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | | | | | - Arpana Wadhwani
- Methods Centre, Bruyère Research InstituteOttawaOntarioCanada
| | | | | | - Dylan Kneale
- Social Science Research Unit, EPPI‐Centre, UCL Institute of EducationUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Douglas M. Salzwedel
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and TherapeuticsUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | | | - Paul Hébert
- Bruyère Research InstituteUniversity of OttawaOttawaOntarioCanada
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Zhou X, Yan WY, Li XT, Li H, Wu YZ, Xu BC. Digital economy: an effective path for promoting residents' health in China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1303541. [PMID: 38074713 PMCID: PMC10704149 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1303541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The primary prerequisite for socioeconomic growth is good health, hence promoting residents' health is a vital objective of public policies. It is yet up for debate whether or not the digital economy (DE), which will be crucial to future economic growth, will eventually result in improvements in residents' health. Utilizing the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) data in 2020, we explore how the DE affects residents' health. The findings reveal that residents' health is greatly enhanced by the DE. The eastern region sees a more dramatic improvement in residents' health as a result of the DE. Additionally, the DE can improve residents' health through the promotion of regional green development. The study's findings add to our knowledge of how the DE impacts residents' health while also offering recommendations for achieving universal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhou
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Wen-Ying Yan
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiu-Ting Li
- School of Business, Xiamen Institute of Technology, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Han Li
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Yi-Zhen Wu
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bao-Chang Xu
- School of Economics, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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12
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Tian J, Li H. Social networks and the mental health among Chinese older adults: the mediating role of loneliness and moderating role of Internet use. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1242356. [PMID: 37854246 PMCID: PMC10581209 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1242356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Although a large body of research suggests that social networks from family and friends are important factors in protecting the mental health of older adults, we know little about the mediating and moderating mechanisms behind this relationship. Using China as an example, this study aims to investigate a comprehensive model that includes social networks, loneliness, Internet use, and mental health outcomes in the older population. Methods We analyzed data from 7,648 Chinese older people over 60 using the 2018 CLASS survey. We studied how various social networks affect their mental health. Using SPSS's PROCESS macro, we first employed descriptive statistics to examine the characteristics of the participants and calculate the correlations of core variables. Then, we assessed whether loneliness mediated this relationship and tested the moderated mediation effect of Internet use. Our findings shed light on these complex dynamics. Results The statistics indicate a positive correlation between social networks and mental health. Furthermore, mediation models revealed that loneliness moderates the relationship between social networks and mental health. In addition, moderated mediation models revealed that Internet use played a distinct function in the family networks model compared to the friend networks model. Internet use moderates explicitly the effects of family networks on loneliness and friend networks on mental health. Conclusion The findings emphasize the importance of differentiating the types of social networks to understand their impact on older adults well-being, encouraging policymakers, medical professionals, and families to adopt more targeted approaches when devising policy interventions and medical strategies, especially for older individuals with insufficient social support. Additionally, we urge governments to recognize the varying types of social networks among older populations and harness the protective effects of Internet technology on their well-being within a digital society.
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Petrou C, Jameel L, Nahabedian N, Kane F. A call for digital inclusion initiatives in mental health services: An integrative review. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs 2023; 30:911-941. [PMID: 37022715 DOI: 10.1111/jpm.12931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: Digital tools such as video calls or mobile phone applications (apps) are increasingly used in the provision of mental healthcare. There is evidence that people with mental health problems are more likely to face digital exclusion: that is, they do not have access to devices and/or skills to use technology. This leaves some people unable to use digital mental health services (e.g., apps or online appointments) or to benefit more generally from access to the digital world (e.g., online shopping or connecting with others virtually). People can be digitally included through initiatives that provide devices, Internet and digital mentoring to increase knowledge and confidence when using technology. WHAT THE PAPER ADDS TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: Some initiatives in academic studies and grey literature have been shown to increase access to and knowledge of technology, but this has been outside of mental health care settings. There are currently limited digital inclusion initiatives that take into consideration the specific needs of people with mental health problems, and how they can be equipped and familiarised with digital technologies to help their recovery journey and everyday life activities. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Further work is needed to improve the provision of digital tools in mental health care, with more practical digital inclusion initiatives to ensure equal access for all. If digital exclusion is not addressed, the gap between people with and those without digital skills or access to technology will continue to grow, enlarging mental health inequalities. ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The rise in the provision of digital healthcare during the pandemic has called attention to digital exclusion: inequality in access and/or capacity to use digital technologies. Digital exclusion is more profound in people with mental health problems, leaving an implementation gap of digital practice in mental health services. AIM Identify the available evidence of (a) addressing digital exclusion in mental health care and (b) the practical solutions to enhance uptake of digital mental health. METHOD Digital inclusion initiatives were searched from both academic and grey literature available and published between the years 2007 and 2021. RESULTS A limited number of academic studies and initiatives were found that supported people with mental health difficulties who had limited skills and/or access to overcome digital exclusion. DISCUSSION Further work is needed to combat digital exclusion and establish ways to reduce the implementation gap in mental health services. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Access to devices, Internet connectivity and digital mentoring for mental health service users is essential. More studies and programmes are needed to disseminate impact and results for digital inclusion initiatives for people with mental health problems and to inform best practice for digital inclusion within mental health services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leila Jameel
- Clinical Psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS, London, UK
| | - Noushig Nahabedian
- Head of Quality Improvement at South London and Maudsley NHS, London, UK
| | - Fergus Kane
- Principal Clinical Psychologist at South London and Maudsley NHS, London, UK
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14
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Wu M, Li C, Zhao X, Hu T, Zeng L, Yu Y, Yang F, Han Y. The effect of internet use on depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older adults with functional disability: the mediating role of social isolation. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1202541. [PMID: 37492141 PMCID: PMC10363719 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1202541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The popularization of the internet provides the possibility to improve the depressive symptoms (DS) and social isolation of middle-aged and older adults with functional disability. There was a significant correlation between internet use and DS in middle-aged and older adults with functional disability, but the relationship between internet use, social isolation, and DS remains to be confirmed. Methods Data were obtained from 7,955 middle-aged and older adults aged 45 years and older from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between internet use and DS, and the Sobel test was used to explore mediating models. Results Results showed that internet use was negatively associated with DS among Chinese middle-aged and older adults. Among them, social needs (B = -0.770, p = 0.041), and information reception (B = -1.067, p = 0.007) were significantly related to DS in middle-aged and older adults. Only information reception (B = -3.161, p = 0.031) was significantly related to DS among middle-aged and older adults with functional disability. Social isolation partially mediated the association between internet use and DS in middle-aged and older adults without functional disability, whereas it was fully mediated in middle-aged and older adults with functional disability. Conclusion This study indicates that when formulating health policies to promote the mental health of Chinese middle-aged and older adults, the use of the internet should not be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Wu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaoyang Li
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Xueyang Zhao
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting Hu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Lijuan Zeng
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiqing Yu
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Fen Yang
- School of Nursing, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yangyang Han
- School of Nursing, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, China
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Wong YP, Yang H. The influence of subjective socioeconomic status on executive functions in middle-aged and older adults. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2023; 30:505-522. [PMID: 35354363 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2022.2055738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Subjective socioeconomic status (SES) has been shown to influence both psychological and biological outcomes. However, less is known about whether its influence extends to cognitive outcomes. We examined the relation between subjective SES and executive functions (EF)-a set of cognitive control processes-and its underlying mechanisms. By analyzing a nationally representative cohort of middle-aged and older adults (age 40-80) from the MIDUS 2 National Survey and Cognitive Project, we tested a serial mediation model with sense of control and health as sequential mediators. Using structural equation modeling, we found that subjective SES is indirectly related to EF via sense of control and health, above and beyond objective SES and other key covariates. Our study highlights one of the possible biopsychosocial mechanisms that underlies the relation between status-related subjective perceptions of inequalities and executive functioning skills in middle and late adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ping Wong
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University Singapore Singapore
| | - Hwajin Yang
- School of Social Sciences, Singapore Management University Singapore Singapore
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16
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Chen HWJ, Marzo RR, Sapa NH, Ahmad A, Anuar H, Baobaid MF, Jamaludin NA, Hamzah H, Sarrafan S, Ads HO, Kumar KA, Hadi J, Sazali H, Abdalqader MA. Trends in Health Communication: Social Media Needs and Quality of Life among Older Adults in Malaysia. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11101455. [PMID: 37239741 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11101455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While social media continues to dominate, social media platforms have become powerful health communication tools for older users. However, fulfilling their social media needs can be both detrimental and beneficial to their quality of life (QoL). This study assessed social media needs as they relate to QoL among older adults in Malaysia. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study and adopted convenience sampling to recruit participants. The participants were required to self-report their sociodemographic profile, social media use and needs, and QoL. Social media use and needs were assessed using the Social Networking Sites Uses and Needs (SNSUN) scale, and QoL was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify the predictors of QoL. RESULTS The findings revealed that the fulfilment of social integrative needs was the strongest predictor of higher QoL in all domains. However, those using social media for their affective needs demonstrated lower psychological health quality. CONCLUSIONS Fulfilling social integrative needs is the key to improving the QoL among older adults. The continuous development of age-friendly applications is essential to keep up with constantly changing social media trends and bridge the gap of social media inequalities. More importantly, it would enable older adults to utilize social media to its fullest potential and enjoy a higher QoL through accessible health communication tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hana W Jun Chen
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Roy Rillera Marzo
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
- Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Petaling Jaya 47500, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nur Hafizah Sapa
- School of Graduate Studies, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Absar Ahmad
- College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Birsa Agricultural University, Ranchi 834006, Jharkhand, India
| | - Haryati Anuar
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammed Faez Baobaid
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Akmal Jamaludin
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hazian Hamzah
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Siamak Sarrafan
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hassan Omar Ads
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Kavitha Ashok Kumar
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jalal Hadi
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hafsah Sazali
- International Medical School, Management & Science University, Shah Alam 40100, Selangor, Malaysia
- School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia
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Paquet C, Whitehead J, Shah R, Adams AM, Dooley D, Spreng RN, Aunio AL, Dubé L. Social Prescription Interventions Addressing Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults: Meta-Review Integrating On-the-Ground Resources. J Med Internet Res 2023; 25:e40213. [PMID: 37195738 PMCID: PMC10233446 DOI: 10.2196/40213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social prescription programs represent a viable solution to linking primary care patients to nonmedical community resources for improving patient well-being. However, their success depends on the integration of patient needs with local resources. This integration could be accelerated by digital tools that use expressive ontology to organize knowledge resources, thus enabling the seamless navigation of diverse community interventions and services tailored to the needs of individual users. This infrastructure bears particular relevance for older adults, who experience a range of social needs that impact their health, including social isolation and loneliness. An essential first step in enabling knowledge mobilization and the successful implementation of social prescription initiatives to meet the social needs of older adults is to incorporate the evidence-based academic literature on what works, with on-the-ground solutions in the community. OBJECTIVE This study aims to integrate scientific evidence with on-the-ground knowledge to build a comprehensive list of intervention terms and keywords related to reducing social isolation and loneliness in older adults. METHODS A meta-review was conducted using a search strategy combining terms related to older adult population, social isolation and loneliness, and study types relevant to reviews using 5 databases. Review extraction included intervention characteristics, outcomes (social [eg, loneliness, social isolation, and social support] or mental health [eg, psychological well-being, depression, and anxiety]), and effectiveness (reported as consistent, mixed, or not supported). Terms related to identified intervention types were extracted from the reviewed literature as well as descriptions of corresponding community services in Montréal, Canada, available from web-based regional, municipal, and community data sources. RESULTS The meta-review identified 11 intervention types addressing social isolation and loneliness in older adults by either increasing social interactions, providing instrumental support, promoting mental and physical well-being, or providing home and community care. Group-based social activities, support groups with educational elements, recreational activities, and training or use of information and communication technologies were the most effective in improving outcomes. Examples of most intervention types were found in community data sources. Terms derived from the literature that were the most commonly congruent with those describing existing community services were related to telehealth, recreational activities, and psychological therapy. However, several discrepancies were observed between review-based terms and those addressing the available services. CONCLUSIONS A range of interventions found to be effective at addressing social isolation and loneliness or their impact on mental health were identified from the literature, and many of these interventions were represented in services available to older residents in Montréal, Canada. However, different terms were occasionally used to describe or categorize similar services across data sources. Establishing an efficient means of identifying and structuring such sources is important to facilitate referrals and help-seeking behaviors of older adults and for strategic planning of resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Paquet
- Département de Marketing, Faculté des Sciences de l'Administration, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
- Centre Nutrition, Santé et Société (NUTRISS), Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF), Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - Jocelyne Whitehead
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rishabh Shah
- Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Alayne Mary Adams
- Department of Family Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Damion Dooley
- Centre for Infectious Disease Genomics and One Health, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - R Nathan Spreng
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Laurette Dubé
- Desautels Faculty of Management, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Centre for the Convergence of Health and Economics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Llorente-Barroso C, Sánchez-Valle M, Viñarás-Abad M. The role of the Internet in later life autonomy: Silver surfers in Spain. HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 10:56. [PMID: 36818037 PMCID: PMC9924886 DOI: 10.1057/s41599-023-01536-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The new digital panorama has enhanced the importance of the Internet, as well as Information and Communications Technology (ICT), in developing a society in which seniors play a proactive role. The main purpose of this article is to define a taxonomy of silver surfers according to the ways they use the Internet and ICT, with a special focus on e-commerce and e-government. A quantitative methodology was used, based on the study of 405 Spanish internet users between 60 and 79 years of age, which was conducted by telephone in February of 2019. Seven groups were identified through a combination of dimensionality reduction techniques and cluster analysis. The results indicate neither a consistent pattern in the specific ways older adults use the Internet nor a homogeneous level of digital knowledge among this demographic group. To some extent, this is a result of disparities in both the perception of digital security that seniors associate with e-commerce and/or e-government and the level of trust engendered by such operations. The Able and Daring are the most numerous clusters, which coincide with the categories of the most active and prepared users. The Sceptical take third place in terms of number of users, as they display limited use of the Internet and claim to have a low digital skills level. However, carrying out both online shopping and administrative procedures without the need for assistance is becoming increasingly frequent among all of those surveyed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Llorente-Barroso
- Department of Applied Communication Studies, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Sánchez-Valle
- Department of Audio-visual Communication and Advertising, CEU San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mónica Viñarás-Abad
- Department of Applied Communication Studies, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Wang X, Zhao YC. Understanding older adults' intention to use patient-accessible electronic health records: Based on the affordance lens. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1075204. [PMID: 36761325 PMCID: PMC9902947 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1075204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Given the aging population and the rapid development of the digital society, concerns about promoting older adults' health skills are increasing. Patient-accessible electronic health records (PAEHRs) are implemented globally for aging health safeguards. The demand for using health-related information communication technologies (ICTs) among older adults and the factors that promote their usage intention of PAEHRs need to be studied. Methods Drawing upon affordance theory, we constructed a research model that integrates four affordance types, aggregation, interactivity, collaboration, and communication, to identify the effects of affordances and attachment to platforms and doctors that contribute to older adults' usage intention on PAEHRs. Online survey data from 498 older adults (above 60 years) were collected and analyzed using partial least square-structural equation modeling. Results Our findings demonstrated how PAEHR's affordances facilitate older adults' attachment to platforms and doctors. We found that aggregation (γ = 0.417, P < 0.001) and interactivity (γ = 0.397, P < 0.001) can positively influence older adults' attachment to the PAEHR platform, and collaboration (γ = 0.407, P < 0.001) affordance can positively influence older adults' attachment to doctors on the PAEHR platform. Furthermore, seniors' attachment to the platform (γ = 0.598, P < 0.001) and attachment to the doctor (γ = 0.156, P < 0.01) can both positively influence their usage intention, and attachment to the platform had a positive relationship with attachment to doctors (γ = 0.230, P < 0.001) on the PAEHR. Conclusion This study enriched the understanding of elders' attachment to doctors on PAEHRs and contributed to the literature on health-related ICT usage targets of older adults. Our findings also shed light on inspiring operators of health-related ICTs to formulate appropriate strategies for aging-friendly design to guide older adults to adopt health-related ICTs in their everyday health information practices.
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Seinsche J, de Bruin ED, Carpinella I, Ferrarin M, Moza S, Rizzo F, Salatino C, Giannouli E. Older adults' needs and requirements for a comprehensive exergame-based telerehabilitation system: A focus group study. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1076149. [PMID: 36711352 PMCID: PMC9875084 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1076149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Telerehabilitation in older adults using information and communication technologies (ICTs) provides therapy, which is potentially equally effective as traditional rehabilitation, yet more accessible. This study aimed to analyze the needs and requirements of older adults (OA) and healthcare-professionals (HP) toward ICTs and telerehabilitation in general as well as toward a specific novel exergame-based telerehabilitation system (COCARE system, Dividat). Materials and methods The COCARE telerehabilitation system enables individual training based on exergames, as well as an assessment system and a digital centralized case management. Six focus groups with in total 34 participants were conducted. A mixed-methods approach was used comprising questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Results Both OA and HP would engage to an exergame-based telerehabilitation program. Major motivating factors are the relevance of such a training for health and the entertainment component of exergames. Main requirements are simplification of the system, variety, a personalized training, a constantly available contact person, and comprehensive instructions for use. Besides, HP praised the system's motivational effect, but remained concerned about risk of falls and social isolation. Conclusion ICTs for telerehabilitation are accepted by OA and HP but should be adapted hardware- and software-wise to address OA' age-stemming vulnerabilities (e.g., risk of falls) and low ICT literacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Seinsche
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Movement Control and Learning, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,*Correspondence: Julia Seinsche ✉
| | - Eling D. de Bruin
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Movement Control and Learning, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Department of Health, OST - Eastern Swiss University of Applied Sciences, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Eleftheria Giannouli
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Human Movement Sciences and Sport, Movement Control and Learning, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland,Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine, Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Leung T, Kwan YH, Yoon S, Goh H, Yee WQ, Tan CS, Low LL. Digital Intergenerational Program to Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Older Adults: Realist Review. JMIR Aging 2023; 6:e39848. [PMID: 36598801 PMCID: PMC9850285 DOI: 10.2196/39848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a compelling need for an innovative and creative approach to promote social connectedness among older adults to optimize their well-being and quality of life. One possible solution may be through a digital intergenerational program. OBJECTIVE This realist review aimed to identify existing digital intergenerational programs that were used to reduce loneliness or social isolation among older adults and analyze them in terms of strategy, context, mechanisms, and outcomes. METHODS We performed a realist review with an extensive search of published and gray literature. For scholarly literature, we searched PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO (Ovid), and Social Sciences Citation Index databases for articles published between January 2000 to August 2020. A grey literature search was performed using the Google search engine, and the search was completed in May 2021. We included programs that evaluated digital intergenerational programs for older adults, which described outcomes of loneliness or social isolation. We included quantitative, mixed methods, and qualitative studies, as well as relevant theoretical papers, policy documents, and implementation documents. The studies were appraised based on their relevance and rigor. We synthesized the available evidence from the literature into Strategy-Context-Mechanism-Outcome (S-C-M-O) configurations to better understand what, when, and how programs work. RESULTS A total of 31 documents reporting 27 digital intergenerational programs were reviewed. Our final results identified 4 S-C-M-O configurations. For S-C-M-O configuration 1, we found that for community-dwelling older adults, provision of access to and training in digital technology may increase older adults' self-efficacy in digital devices and therefore increase the use of digital communication with family. In S-C-M-O configuration 2, digital psychosocial support and educational interventions from nurses were found to be useful in reducing loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. In S-C-M-O configuration 3, a video call with a student or family was found to reduce loneliness among older adults residing in long-term residential care facilities. Finally, for S-C-M-O configuration 4, we found that behavioral activation provided through videoconferencing by a lay coach may be useful in reducing loneliness among older adults who are lonely. However, as almost half (11/27, 41%) of the included programs only reported quantitative results, this review focused on screening the discussion section of publications to identify author opinions or any qualitative information to elucidate the mechanisms of how programs work. CONCLUSIONS This review identified the key strategy, context, and mechanism influencing the success of programs that promote intergenerational interaction through digital means. This review revealed that different strategies should be adopted for different groups of older adults (eg, older adults who are lonely, older adults who reside in long-term residential care facilities, and community-dwelling older adults). The S-C-M-O configurations should be considered when designing and implementing digital intergenerational programs for older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yu Heng Kwan
- Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, SingHealth, Singapore, Singapore.,Health Systems and Services Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Internal Medicine Residency, SingHealth residency, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sungwon Yoon
- Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, SingHealth, Singapore, Singapore.,Health Systems and Services Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hendra Goh
- Health Systems and Services Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Qi Yee
- Population Health & Integrated Care Office, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chuen Seng Tan
- Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lian Leng Low
- Centre for Population Health Research and Implementation, SingHealth Regional Health System, SingHealth, Singapore, Singapore.,Population Health & Integrated Care Office, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Family Medicine & Continuing Care, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,SingHealth Duke-NUS Family Medicine, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.,Outram Community Hospital, SingHealth Community Hospitals, Singapore, Singapore
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Meynet S, Beaudoin M, Smedig A. Promouvoir la santé mentale des personnes âgées avec des incapacités physiques : revue systématique des interventions proposées à domicile et en établissement. Rech Soins Infirm 2023; 151:18-29. [PMID: 37015854 DOI: 10.3917/rsi.151.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Introduction : Promoting the mental health of vulnerable elderly patients is a public health priority.Context : In many cases, mental health interventions for elderly people are not appropriate for those with multiple physical disabilities.Objectives : This article aims to provide gerontology professionals with an overview of the types of interventions available based on their practice setting (home or long-term care facility) and the characteristics of the people who use them (over 75 years old with physical disabilities).Method : A systematic literature review was conducted using the PsycInfo, PubMed, and Cochrane databases, using data ranging from 2001-2022. All interventions aimed at addressing mental health issues were included, regardless of their research methodology.Results : A total of 18 studies were included in this systematic review. The methodological limitations of these studies had a negative impact on our ability to draw conclusions and generalizations about the results of this review. However, the social and psychological support interventions studied seem to hold much promise.Discussion : The provision of personalized support seems to be an important factor in determining the success of an intervention, whether at home or in a long-stay facility.Conclusion : Further studies are needed to provide evidence of the effectiveness of these interventions.
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Lu H, Nie P, Qian L. Impact of Internal Migration on Sexual Attitudes in China: The Moderating Role of Internet Use. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2023; 52:255-266. [PMID: 34988765 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-021-02155-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Using nationally representative data from China, this paper investigated the impact of internal migration on sexual attitudes and whether this relationship is moderated by Internet use. We provide evidence that internal migration had a significantly positive impact on attitudes toward the acceptance of premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexuality. We also found that the positive nexus between internal migration and sexual attitudes was moderated by Internet use. The results further indicated that internal migration influenced sexual attitudes through extrication from traditional gender role values, the deterioration of subjective well-being, and the improvement of economic status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyang Lu
- The West Center for Economic Research, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, China
| | - Peng Nie
- School of Economics and Finance, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
| | - Long Qian
- Institute of Food Economics, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing, China
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E Y, Yang J, Niu L, Lu C. The impact of internet use on health status among older adults in China: The mediating role of social support. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1108096. [PMID: 36908418 PMCID: PMC9992883 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1108096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background With the popularization of the Internet, the use of the Internet is becoming more and more important in the daily life of older adults. However, previous research mainly focuses on Internet use and health in general, and the mechanism of this effect remains to be studied. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore the mediational effects of social support between Internet use and health among older adults in China. Methods The data used in this article are from the 2021 Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS). Social support is divided into two aspects and four dimensions: informal social support (relatives support, friends support, neighbors support) and formal social support (social insurance). This article uses the nested multivariate OLS regression models to analyze the impact of Internet use on health. Furthermore, Finally, SPSS macro PROCESS is applied to test their mediation effects. Results Informal social support positively influenced the health status among older adults, while formal social support did not. Among the three types of informal social support, relatives support and friends support significantly affected health status among Chinese older adults. Regarding social support differences between urban and rural areas, it was found that relatives support is a positively significant factor for rural older adults, while friends support is significant for urban older adults. Conclusions Since Internet use has many ways of impacting health status, social support only plays a partial mediating role in this study. It recommends that the government should take compelling measures to encourage and promote the use of the Internet among older adults and obtain various social support to improve their health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting E
- Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jianke Yang
- Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Long Niu
- Department of Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chunli Lu
- School of Normal Education, Longyan University, Longyan, Fujian, China
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Xu J, Zhang Q. The relationship between Internet use and mental health of the elderly: Analysis of the differences between urban and rural. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280318. [PMID: 36701394 PMCID: PMC9879507 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Internet use has an important impact on the elderly health. Based on the data of China General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2017, Model 4 and Model 14 in PROCESS were used to test the mechanism of Internet use on the mental health of the elderly, and further compare the differences between urban and rural elderly. The results are that Internet can positively predict the mental health of the whole sample and the urban elderly, but it has no significant predictive effect on the rural elderly; Internet can negatively predict the alienation of whole sample and urban and rural elderly; Alienation has a partly mediated effect between internet use and mental health of the whole elderly; "Internet using-alienation-mental health" the second path was moderated by embodied cultural capital in the whole sample and in the urban elderly. The conclusions are that Internet has a protective effect on the mental health of the elderly, and the mental health can be improved by reducing alienation. Increasing the use of the Internet and embodied cultural capital is an effective way to improve the mental health of the elderly. It is necessary to provide more internet access opportunities for the elderly, especially those in rural areas, increase the accessibility of embodied cultural capital, and bridge the digital divide between urban and rural elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyan Xu
- College of Law and Public Management, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- College of Education, Hunan University of Science and Technology, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
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Petersen B, Khalili-Mahani N, Murphy C, Sawchuk K, Phillips N, Li KZH, Hebblethwaite S. The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1063146. [PMID: 37034933 PMCID: PMC10075275 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1063146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Older adults are at a higher risk of loneliness, compared to other demographics. The use of Internet Communication and Technologies (ICTs) among older adults is steadily increasing and given ICTs provide a means of enhancing social connectedness suggests they may have positive effects on reducing loneliness. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to examine the research that explores how ICTs may be implicated in mitigating loneliness and increasing social connectedness among older adults. After the examination of 54 articles, we identified three major themes within the literature: (1) ICTs were associated with a reduction in loneliness and increase in wellbeing. (2) ICTs promoted social connectedness by facilitating conversations. (3) Factors such as training, self-efficacy, self-esteem, autonomy, and the design/features, or affordances, of ICTs contribute toward the associations between ICT use and wellbeing. The heterogeneity of methodologies, statistical reporting, the small sample sizes of interventional and observational studies, and the diversity of the experimental contexts underline the challenges of quantitative research in this field and highlights the necessity of tailoring ICT interventions to the needs and contexts of the older users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berkley Petersen
- Laboratory for Adult Development and Cognitive Aging, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Berkley Petersen,
| | - Najmeh Khalili-Mahani
- Media Health Lab, Department of Design and Computation Arts, Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- McGill Centre for Integrative Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Caitlin Murphy
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation (CRIR), Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Kim Sawchuk
- Aging and Communication Technologies (ACT), Department of Communication Studies, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Natalie Phillips
- Laboratory of Cognition, Aging and Psychophysiology (CAP), Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Karen Z. H. Li
- Laboratory for Adult Development and Cognitive Aging, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Zhao L, Zhang K, Gao Y, Jia Z, Han S. The relationship between gender, marital status and depression among Chinese middle-aged and older people: Mediation by subjective well-being and moderation by degree of digitization. Front Psychol 2022; 13:923597. [PMID: 36324779 PMCID: PMC9621090 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.923597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of gender and marital status on depression among middle-aged and older people in China, and to explore the mediating effect of subjective well-being and the moderating effect of degree of digitization in the relationship between subjective well-being and depression. A total of 15,586 Chinese middle-aged and older people (≥ 45 years old) were included in the study using data from the 2018 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS). T-test, ANOVA, hierarchical regression and Bootstrap methods were adopted to test the mediating role of subjective well-being and the moderating role of degree of digitization. The results showed that middle-aged and older women were more likely to suffer from depression than men, and married middle-aged and older people were less likely to be depressed than those who were separated or divorced, widowed and never married. Subjective well-being partially mediated the relationship between gender and depression, and masked the relationship between marital status and depression, and all five dimensions it contains also played a mediating role. Degree of digitization moderated the effect of subjective well-being on depression. Simple slope tests indicated that the effect of subjective well-being on depression increased as degree of digitization increased. In conclusion, to address the mental health problems of middle-aged and older people brought about by the ageing and digital society, we should start by improving their subjective well-being and promoting their integration into the digital society.
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The Effects of Online Social Interactions on Life Satisfaction of Older Chinese Adults: New Insights Based on a Longitudinal Approach. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10101964. [PMID: 36292411 PMCID: PMC9602052 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10101964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Population aging and digitalization have become universal phenomena. Over the past two decades, digital inclusion has started to play a crucial role in supporting successful aging. Based on a nationally representative sample of around 5200 older adults in China over the period of 2014-2018, we explore the effects of online social interactions (OSIs) on the life satisfaction of older adults. We find that OSIs can improve the levels of life satisfaction of older Chinese adults. Estimates from fixed effect and cross-lagged structural equation models further suggest that OSIs work by increasing physical activities, healthy time allocation, interpersonal trust, and informal social engagement and reducing loneliness. We also find that OSIs narrow the social inequality in life satisfaction across groups from rural-urban areas and groups with different social statuses. Moreover, a comparison among different online engagements shows that not all online activities positively affect older adults' life satisfaction. Different online activities have varying effects. Our results highlight that public digital interventions focusing on social functions can benefit the lives of older adults.
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Shryock SK, Meeks S. Activity, Activity Personalization, and Well-Being in Nursing Home Residents With and Without Cognitive Impairment: An Integrative Review. Clin Gerontol 2022; 45:1058-1072. [PMID: 33218291 DOI: 10.1080/07317115.2020.1844356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Engagement in personally relevant and pleasant activity is a facet of many theories of well-being. This integrated review and narrative synthesis explored the hypothesis that activity participation improves well-being for nursing home residents. METHODS Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Academic Search Complete, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Embase, and CINAHL for research published between 2006 and 2018. We included peer-reviewed, English-language studies of nursing-home residents, with interventions focused on activities and on well-being or affect outcomes. RESULTS After screening, the search yielded 45 studies: 15 reviews of specific activities and 30 empirical articles. We found consistent support for tailored activity interventions and less consistent support for specific or generic activity interventions with the possible exception of music therapy. Research focused on specific activity types had methodological limitations and confounds with activity preferences. CONCLUSIONS Participation in activities may improve well-being in residents of nursing homes. Tailored activities are likely to be superior to those provided indiscriminately to all residents. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Improving quality of life in long-term care should include opportunities to engage in activities; those most effective will be tailored to individuals and no single activity will be effective for everyone.
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Fu Z, Yan M, Meng C. The effectiveness of remote delivered intervention for loneliness reduction in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:935544. [PMID: 35967719 PMCID: PMC9372715 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.935544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundRemotely delivered intervention is widely applied to loneliness treatment in older adults, but the effect is controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of remotely delivered intervention on loneliness using a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsThe PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL (EBSCO), PsycINFO (EBSCO) databases were searched for studies, the search ended on 7 July 2021. Thirteen randomized controlled trials of remotely delivered intervention compared with usual care, brief contact, or no intervention for loneliness were included. A random-effects model measured estimation of loneliness reduction. Furthermore, standardized mean differences (SMDs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), publication bias, and heterogeneity were calculated. Subgroup analysis was used to explore the factors that might affect the treatment effects.ResultsThe evidence of remotely delivered intervention on loneliness reduction was certain (SMD = −0.41 [95% CI, −0.70 to −0.13]). Media subgroup analysis supported the effectiveness of intervention delivered by video call (SMD = −0.54 [95% CI, −0.83 to −0.25]); treatment strategy subgroup analysis found evidence to support the effectiveness of increasing social support and maladaptive social cognition treatment strategy (SMD = −0.47 [95% CI, −0.77 to −0.18] and SMD = −1.04 [95% CI, −1.98 to −0.10], respectively); participants subgroup analysis shown the effectiveness of intervention for older adults living in LTC and social isolation (SMD = −1.40 [95% CI, −2.43 to −0.36] and SMD = −0.55 [95% CI, −0.74 to −0.36], respectively); group format subgroup analysis testified the effectiveness of intervention carried out in individual format (SMD = −0.39 [95% CI, −0.71 to −0.07]); measurement time points subgroup analysis found the positive effect of intervention at 3 months and 3 to 6 months stage (SMD = −0.33 [95% CI, −0.52 to −0.14] and SMD = −0.32 [95% CI, −0.57 to −0.07], respectively). Significant publication bias was detected (p < 0.05), and the heterogeneity of the studies was substantial.ConclusionThis systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate that remotely delivered intervention can reduce loneliness in older adults, and it appears to be affected by media type, treatment strategy, participants characteristics, group format, and measurement time points.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengke Fu
- Department of Computational Communication, School of Media and Law, Ningbo Tech University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Zhengke Fu,
| | - Mengsi Yan
- Department of Japanese Language Study, School of Humanity, Ningbo University of Finance and Economics, Ningbo, China
| | - Chao Meng
- Department of Computational Communication, School of Media and Law, Ningbo Tech University, Ningbo, China
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Zhao C, Li X, Yan J. The effect of digital finance on Residents' happiness: the case of mobile payments in China. ELECTRONIC COMMERCE RESEARCH 2022. [PMCID: PMC9199316 DOI: 10.1007/s10660-022-09549-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
With the popularization of digital finance in China, mobile payments have penetrated into all aspects of residents' daily life. However, few studies have examined the potential impact of mobile payments on people's happiness in China. Using the nationally representative data from the China Household Finance Survey (CHFS), this study adopts the ordered probit regression with endogenous treatment to adjust for possible endogeneity to assess the effect of mobile payments on residents' happiness. The results suggest an association between mobile payment usage and increases in happiness, which is supported by several robustness checks, such as using an alternative instrumental variable (IV), replacing the explained variable, and removing some extreme observations. In addition, we explore the mechanisms by which mobile payments affect residents' happiness from multiple perspectives. Positive mechanisms include promoting quality of life, reducing transaction costs, stimulating entrepreneurship, and increasing social interaction. However, as a non-cash payment method, mobile payments may also lead to over-consumption, which is detrimental to residents' happiness. Furthermore, the heterogeneous analysis shows inclusive attributes of mobile payments. We find mobile payments have a greater positive effect on happiness of some socially disadvantaged groups, such as elderly individuals, rural residents, the low-educated, and low-income households. These findings supplement the literature on online happiness and financial inclusion and refer to the possible negative impact of mobile payments. Therefore, it is necessary to actively promote mobile payments to benefit more socially vulnerable groups and prevent potential risks from over-consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunkai Zhao
- College of Economics and Management, South China Agricultural University, No.483, Wushan, Tianhe District, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province China
| | - Xing Li
- College of Economics and Management, Southwest University, 2 Tiansheng Road, Beibei, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianfeng Yan
- Institute of Finance and Economics Research, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, 777 Guoding Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China
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Liu G, Li S, Kong F. Association between social support, smartphone usage and loneliness among the migrant elderly following children in Jinan, China: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060510. [PMID: 35613788 PMCID: PMC9174823 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES As the fast population ageing in the past few decades, China has also witnessed an increase in the number of migrant elderly following children (MEFC). This study aims to examine the relationship between MEFC's social support, smartphone usage and loneliness in Jinan, China. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SETTING Shandong Province, China. PARTICIPANTS The participants were 656 MEFC aged 60 years or above. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Loneliness was measured by an eight-item version of the University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale (ULS-8). A t-test and one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were conducted to compare the level of loneliness across different sociodemographic variables, social support indicators and smartphone usage indicators. Structural equation modelling was used to validate the association between the above variables. RESULTS The MEFC's mean score on the ULS-8 was 12.82±4.05, indicating a relatively lower level of loneliness. It was found that social support and smartphone usage exerted negative effects on loneliness of the MEFC, and the standardised direct effects were -0.165 (95% CI -0.257 to -0.070) and -0.094 (95% CI -0.180 to -0.003), respectively. Social support was found to be positively associated with smartphone usage of the MEFC, and the standardised direct effect was 0.147 (95% CI 0.052 to 0.246). CONCLUSIONS The loneliness of the MEFC was relatively low and was clarified to be negatively associated with social support and smartphone usage. Effective intervention measures on social support and smartphone usage to alleviate loneliness among the MEFC in China were recommended based on this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangwen Liu
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shixue Li
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fanlei Kong
- Centre for Health Management and Policy Research, School of Public Health, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- NHC Key Lab of Health Economics and Policy Research, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Gazit T, Nisim S, Ayalon L. Intergenerational family online community and older adults' overall well-being. ONLINE INFORMATION REVIEW 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/oir-06-2021-0332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the potential contribution of a membership in an online family community to older adults' overall well-being.Design/methodology/approachA total of 427 respondents over the age of 64 participated in the study (M = 74.55, SD = 7.13), answering a survey. To test the contributing of belonging to family online communities (WhatsApp), three hierarchical regression analyses were conducted, with well-being, self-perceptions of aging and loneliness as outcome variables.FindingsFindings show that belonging to an intergenerational family online community was associated with higher levels of well-being, less loneliness and better self-perceptions of aging, even once demographic characteristics and using social media were controlled for.Social implicationsThis study demonstrates the important role that the family online community membership plays in older adults' lives. This has significant implications that may contribute to intergenerational emotional solidarity.Originality/valueThe authors suggest that technology is not per se, but the intergenerational opportunities that technology facilitates that make a difference.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-06-2021-0332
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Internet use and subsequent health and well-being in older adults: An outcome-wide analysis. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Health effects of loneliness and social isolation in older adults living in congregate long term care settings: A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative evidence. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2022; 102:104728. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2022.104728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Li Y, Godai K, Kido M, Komori S, Shima R, Kamide K, Kabayama M. Cognitive decline and poor social relationship in older adults during COVID-19 pandemic: can information and communications technology (ICT) use helps? BMC Geriatr 2022; 22:375. [PMID: 35484494 PMCID: PMC9047378 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-022-03061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background To answer whether older adults' cognitive function benefits from ICT use, we (1) examined the relationship between ICT use and cognitive decline during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) explored the potential role of ICT use in mitigating the relationship between loneliness, social isolation, and cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults. Methods From February to March 2021, a mail survey was distributed to 1,400 older adults aged 70–89 years old. Responded participants were 1,003 (71.6% response rate). Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) was the independent variable. ICT use was assessed based on ICT use history and current ICT use activities. Loneliness was based on the Japanese version of the Three-Item Loneliness Scale. Social isolation was a total score of six items. Covariate-adjusted logistic regressions were performed and stratified by age groups (70–79 and ≥ 80 years). Results During the COVID-19 epidemic, the proportion of people aged ≥ 80 years who reported cognitive decline was twice that of 70s. Non-ICT use was independently associated with a higher risk of cognitive decline in participants aged ≥ 80 years. Furthermore, the significant associations between cognitive decline and interaction items (non-ICT use by loneliness or social isolation) were observed in the ≥ 80 age group. No association was found in the 70–79 age group. Conclusions Non-ICT users with high loneliness or social isolation scores were more likely to experience cognitive decline for adults age ≥ 80 years. For older adults who were vulnerable to poor social relationships, ICT use is potentially an efficient intervention. Further longitudinal investigations are needed. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-022-03061-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaya Li
- Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kayo Godai
- Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Michiko Kido
- Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Susumu Komori
- Health and Welfare Center, Toyono Town, Osaka, 563-0103, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Shima
- Strategic Global Partnership & the X(Cross)-Innovation Initiative, Graduate School of Medicine / Faculty of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kei Kamide
- Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mai Kabayama
- Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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Jiang S, Zhang W, Yang T, Wu D, Yu L, Cottrell RR. Regional Internet Access and Mental Stress Among University Students: A Representative Nationwide Study of China. Front Public Health 2022; 10:845978. [PMID: 35462833 PMCID: PMC9024116 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.845978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Internet changed the lives of average citizens in the early part of the twenty-first century, and it has now become an essential part of daily life. Many studies reported that accessibility of Internet use is associated with mental health. However, previous studies examining this association were confined to local and community subpopulations and limited at the individual level, which increases the potential bias from the selection effect at a different level. Regional variables would be a stable estimate of people's socioeconomic and cultural environments and how these variables affect mental health needed to be studied. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between regional Internet access, and mental stress among university students. Methods Participants were 11,954 students, who were identified through a multistage survey sampling process conducted in 50 Chinese universities. Regional Internet access was retrieved from a national database, and mental stress was measured using the Perceived Stress Scale (Chinese Version) (CPSS). Both unadjusted and adjusted methods were considered in the analyses. Results More than one-third 36.9% (95% CI: 24.4–49.5%) of university students in this study suffered from severe mental stress (SMR). The multilevel logistic regression model found that university students studied in low-level universities had 2.52 (95% C.I. 1.17 to 6.37) times the prevalence of SMR than those in high-level universities. Compared with small cities, students in a large city had a lower prevalence of SMR (OR 0.25; 95%C.I. 0.06 to 0.77). Most importantly, regional Internet access was negatively associated with students' SMR (OR 0.25; 95%C.I. 0.08 to 0.76). Conclusions This study indicated that regional Internet access and other environmental factors including city size and type of universities contribute to students' mental health. The findings underscore that efforts to control excessive mental stress among students in China should pay greater attention to environmental determinants of stress and particularly to improve internet access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhan Jiang
- School of Humanities and Management, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weifang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingzhong Yang
- Women's Hospital/Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Injure Control Research Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United States
- *Correspondence: Tingzhong Yang
| | - Dan Wu
- School of Psychology/Center for Mental Health, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lingwei Yu
- Center for Tobacco Control Research, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Randall R. Cottrell
- Public Health Studies Program, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC, United States
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The Silent Generation vs Baby Boomers: Socio-demographic and psychological predictors of the “gray” digital inequalities. COMPUTERS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2021.107098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Yuan W, Jiang M, Gong S. How to Improve the Cognitive Health of Middle-Aged and Elderly People: Evidence From China Family Panel Studies. Front Public Health 2022; 10:799255. [PMID: 35186840 PMCID: PMC8855359 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.799255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the context of the rapid development of the internet and the increasing severity of the aging problem, and in order to promote aged health and help construct a healthy society. We use micro survey data from the 2016 China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to investigate the impact of the internet on the cognitive health of middle-aged and elderly people (those aged 40 and above). The robust results suggest that the internet plays a significant positive role in the cognitive health of middle-aged and elderly people in terms of internet use and internet involvement. This effect does not change significantly with differences in gender, household registration, location, or household composition, but there are heterogeneity effects due to differences in education. Further analysis indicates that the satisfaction of emotional attachment with children is the internal mechanism of the internet's influence on the cognitive health of people in this age group. Our paper both help scholars and the public to better understand the impact of the internet on the cognitive health of middle-aged and elderly people and clarifies different methods of defining the internet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- School of Business Administration, Hubei University of Economics, Wuhan, China
| | - Min Jiang
- Shanghai Institute of Tourism, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Min Jiang
| | - Shuying Gong
- College of Business, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai, China
- Shuying Gong
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Tierney SM, Kordovski VM, Rahman S, Medina LD, Damian RI, Collins RL, Woods SP. Neuropsychological aspects of internet-based transit navigation skills in older adults. NEUROPSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENT, AND COGNITION. SECTION B, AGING, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND COGNITION 2022; 29:87-103. [PMID: 33225801 DOI: 10.1080/13825585.2020.1852164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Older adults commonly experience difficulties efficiently searching the Internet, which can adversely affect daily functioning. This study specifically examined the neuropsychological aspects of online transit planning in 50 younger (M = 22 years) and 40 older (M = 64 years) community-dwelling adults. All participants completed a neuropsychological battery, questionnaires, and measures of Internet use and skills. Participants used a live transit planning website to complete three inter-related tasks (e.g., map a route from an airport to a specific hotel at a particular time). On a fourth Internet transit task, participants were randomized into either a support condition in which they received brief goal management training or into a control condition. Results showed that older adults were both slower and less accurate than their younger counterparts in completing the first three Internet transit tasks. Within the older adults, Internet transit accuracy showed a medium association with verbal memory, executive functions, and auditory attention, but not visuomotor speed, which was the only domain associated with Internet transit task speed in both groups. The goal management training was beneficial for plan development in younger, but not older adults. The planning supports did not impact actual Internet transit task performance in either group. Findings indicate that older adults experience difficulties quickly and accurately using a transit website to plan transportation routes, which is associated with poorer higher-order neurocognitive functions (e.g., memory). Future work might examine the benefits of established memory strategies (e.g., spaced retrieval practice) for online transit planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savanna M Tierney
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Samina Rahman
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Luis D Medina
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rodica I Damian
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert L Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of Houston Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Neuropsychology of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
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Valle MS, Barroso CL, Alcalá LA. Perceptions and Attitudes of Spanish “Digital Seniors” Towards E-Government. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.4018/ijegr.297228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A typology of user was explored as to behaviour and perception of e-Government through a telephone survey involving 405 Internet users between 60 and 79 years of age. Ten different groups were identified by means of dimensionality reduction techniques followed by a cluster analysis. The main conclusion is that there is no consistent pattern, although among the groups which do use e-Government, they have less concerns than the rest and see less need for modifications to be applied to adapt the websites to the needs of seniors. Within this older age group, two types are clearly identified. Those who feel uncomfortable, which explains their avoidance of e-Government, and to a lesser degree, those whose lack of contact with public administration may be due to a lack of interest for such services. It appears that a senior-friendly offering together with learning opportunities would increase interest for this channel.
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Jin W, Liu Y, Yuan S, Bai R, Li X, Bai Z. The Effectiveness of Technology-Based Interventions for Reducing Loneliness in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Front Psychol 2021; 12:711030. [PMID: 34955948 PMCID: PMC8692663 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.711030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To systematically analyze the effectiveness of technology-based interventions for reducing loneliness in older adults. Methods: We searched relevant electronic databases from inception to April 2021, which included Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, SpringerLink, EMBASE, CNKI, and Wanfang. The following criteria were used: (i) study design—randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs, (ii) people—older adults (aged ≥ 60 years), (iii) intervention—technology-based interventions in which a core component involved the use of technology to reduce loneliness in older adults; and (iv) outcome—reduction of loneliness level in terms of rating scale scores. Two reviewers independently identified eligible studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. A third reviewer resolved any conflicts. The Cochrane Collaboration's bias assessment tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias for the included studies, and Review Manager 5.4 software was used for the meta-analysis. A random effects model was adopted to measure estimates of loneliness reduction, and standard mean differences (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for each intervention-control contrast, and the I2 statistic was applied to examine heterogeneity. Results: A total of 391 participants from six RCTs were included in the review. Of these, three studies were rated as low-quality, and the remaining three were rated as moderate-quality studies. The meta-analysis showed that the evidence regarding the effects on loneliness of technology-based interventions compared with control groups was uncertain, and suggested that technology-based interventions resulted in little to no difference in loneliness reduction compared to control groups (SMD = −0.08, 95% CI −0.33 to 0.17, p = 0.53). Two types of technology-based interventions were identified: smartphone-based video calls and computer-based training with Internet usage. The subgroup analysis found low-quality evidence to support the effectiveness of both intervention types (SMD = −0.01, 95% CI −0.25 to 0.24, p = 0.95, and SMD = −0.38, 95% CI −0.19, 0.64, p = 0.47, respectively). Conclusions: We found no current evidence to support that technology-based interventions were effective compared to different control conditions in reducing loneliness in older adults. This suggests that more research is needed to investigate the effects of technology-based interventions on loneliness in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Jin
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Yihong Liu
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Shulin Yuan
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruhai Bai
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuebin Li
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenggang Bai
- Department of Sociology, School of Public Affairs, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing, China
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Martín-García AV, Redolat R, Pinazo-Hernandis S. Factors Influencing Intention to Technological Use in Older Adults. The TAM Model Aplication. Res Aging 2021; 44:573-588. [PMID: 34962846 DOI: 10.1177/01640275211063797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The use of digital technology by older adults has improved in recent years in response to the need for their functional adaptation to an increasingly technological social context. Understanding this type of technological adaptation has recently become an important field of inquiry in both social and gerontological studies. Working within this framework, the aim of this study is to identify the main determinants that influence the intention of older people to use digital technology in their daily lives, using the Technological Acceptance Model. A study was carried out with the participation of 1155 people over 65 years of age in Spain. Confirmatory Factor Analysis and structural equation models (SEM) were performed. The results show that the TAM is a useful model to explain the intention of older adults to use Digital Technology, showing a high predictive power, highlighting Perceived Usefulness and Perceived Ease of Use as the main predictor variables.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosa Redolat
- Department of Psychobiology, 16781University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
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Impact of Internet Use on Mental Health among Elderly Individuals: A Difference-in-Differences Study Based on 2016-2018 CFPS Data. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:ijerph19010101. [PMID: 35010361 PMCID: PMC8749999 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The number of elderly Internet users has increased significantly in the past few years. However, the impact of Internet use on mental health remains unclear. In this study, we performed a difference-in-differences analysis using data from the 2016 and 2018 waves of the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) to evaluate the impact of Internet usage on mental health among elderly individuals. A total of 5031 validated respondents were included to explore the relationship between Internet use and reduced levels of depression as well as improved life satisfaction among elderly individuals. The results showed that Internet use significantly reduced depression levels. Unexpectedly, Internet use was not found to improve life satisfaction. Moreover, discontinuing Internet use was not significantly associated with improvements in depression or life satisfaction. More research is needed to fully elucidate the relationship between Internet use and depression levels, as well as life satisfaction among elderly individuals.
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The influence of social pain experience on empathic neural responses: the moderating role of gender. Exp Brain Res 2021; 240:53-69. [PMID: 34854933 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-021-06279-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Empathy for pain, the ability to share and understand the pain of others, plays an important role in the survival and development of individuals. Previous studies have found that social pain experience affects empathy for pain, but potential gender differences have not been considered. The stage of information processing during which gender is most likely to play a moderating role has yet to be clarified. In the current study, we set up two groups (social pain experience priming: social exclusion group; positive social interaction experience priming: social inclusion group) with a Cyberball game paradigm. We recorded the electrophysiological responses when participants were completing an empathy task. An early frontal P2 and N2 differentiation between painful stimuli and neutral stimuli was observed and females showed larger P2 amplitudes than males. At the P3 stage, in the social exclusion group, males showed similar parietal P3 amplitudes for painful and neutral stimuli, while females showed smaller P3 amplitudes for painful stimuli. At the central-parietal late positive potential (LPP) stage, females in the social inclusion group showed larger LPP amplitudes for painful stimuli than males. Our results suggest that gender plays a significant moderating role in how social pain experience affects empathy for pain during the late cognitive processing stage. Experiment 2 was designed to investigate the cognitive mechanism behind the results for the P3 component in females and the results partially confirmed our speculation. This study provides a neurophysiological basis for the dynamic gender differences in the effects of social pain experience on empathy for pain.
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Kikuchi M, Kamishima T, Abe H, Onishi R, Takashima R, Hirano M. Older Rural People's Perception of Connectedness through Communication Application: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Nurs Health Sci 2021; 24:163-173. [PMID: 34851009 DOI: 10.1111/nhs.12908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Connectedness among older people is essential for healthy communities, especially among rural populations where limited social interaction and associated health effects may be cause for concern. In this qualitative descriptive study, we explored older rural people's perception of connectedness through a communication application. The study assessed 10 participants (mean age = 76.2 years) living in rural Japan who regularly participated in a senior citizens' club. From July 2019 to January 2020, the participants used a social media application developed by our research team to meet the needs of older people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Six themes representing older rural people's perception of connectedness were identified: (1) thoughtful consideration for members strengthened even without them meeting face-to-face, (2) encouragement received from familiar members, (3) joy in sharing daily routine with neighbors, (4) courage to advance through face-to-face interaction, (5) willingness to continue club membership, and (6) fear of disrupting club's harmony. Participants who used the application felt compensated for the lack of social interaction opportunities in rural settings and strengthened their existing relationships. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Kikuchi
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. N12W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tamotsu Kamishima
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. N12W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Abe
- Health and Welfare Section, Health and Welfare Department, Higashi Ward Office, City of Sapporo, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. 1-1 N11E7, Higashi-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ryuta Onishi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. N12W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Risa Takashima
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. N12W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Michiyo Hirano
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. N12W5, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan
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The Digital Divide and Active Aging in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182312675. [PMID: 34886400 PMCID: PMC8657244 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182312675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid development of society, especially the advent of intelligent technology of life services, the ability of the elderly to adapt to modern digital life is getting weaker and weaker, the dilemma of the “digital divide” for the elderly has aroused heated public debate. In the era of aging and information superposition, in-depth study of the multi-dimensional impact of the digital divide on the elderly has become an effective content of China’s active aging strategy. Based on the micro-data of the Chinese General Social Survey in 2017, this paper uses the entropy right method to construct the digital divide index system for the elderly over 60 years of age from the perspective of essential equipment, Internet utilization degree, and Basic Internet usage skills. At the same time, this paper constructs China’s comprehensive index of active aging from three aspects: health, social participation, and guarantee of the elderly, to study the impact of the digital divide on China’s active aging. The following conclusions have been drawn: the digital divide among the elderly significantly inhibits China’s active aging. The digital divide reduces the level of physical and mental health and social participation of older persons and inhibits the level of guarantee of older persons, thus impeding their active aging. In addition, it also reduces the overall life satisfaction of the elderly. The use of the Internet, skills, and other digital technology abilities of the elderly have effectively promoted active aging. The more Internet access devices older people have, the higher their level of social participation. The higher the Internet frequency of the elderly, the healthier the body and mind. Furthermore, the greater the level of physical and mental health and social participation of older groups who use online payments. The digital divide among the elderly inhibits the process of China’s active aging, and the unique course and stage characteristics of the development of the aging of the Chinese population require us to pay full attention to the relationship between the digital divide and active aging and how to construct a “digital-friendly” aging system is an essential issue for China’s social development to consider.
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Köttl H, Cohn-Schwartz E, Ayalon L. Self-Perceptions of Aging and Everyday ICT Engagement: A Test of Reciprocal Associations. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2021; 76:1913-1922. [PMID: 32976555 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Everyday information and communication technologies (EICTs), involving digital services, such as online shopping, e-banking, and video calling, are perceived to be associated with youth and a modern lifestyle. On the other hand, older adults are often portrayed as technology-alienated, less willing, and incapable of using EICT. The internalization of potentially negative age stereotypes may compromise actual later life engagement and the ability to perform EICT. At the same time, low engagement in EICT may also contribute to negative self-perceptions of aging (SPA), for example, related to physical loss, social loss, and personal competence. This study was, hence, designed to evaluate the temporal reciprocal associations of SPA and older adults' EICT use. METHODS The article was based on 2 waves (2014 and 2017) from the German Ageing Survey (DEAS), a nationally representative survey of middle-aged and older individuals aged 40 and older. A cross-lagged model (N = 3,600) was estimated to examine the reciprocal associations of SPA and EICT. RESULTS The lagged effect of SPA on EICT engagement was nonsignificant, whereas the lagged effect of EICT engagement on SPA in the domain personal competence was significant, indicating that greater EICT engagement predicted more positive SPA related to personal competence 3 years later. DISCUSSION These findings encourage researchers and policymakers to put further emphasis on the empowerment of older individuals in their EICT engagement. Interventions that promote lifelong learning and age-friendly environments can enhance a more positive aging experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Köttl
- Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ella Cohn-Schwartz
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Liat Ayalon
- Louis and Gabi Weisfeld School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Shapira S, Cohn-Schwartz E, Yeshua-Katz D, Aharonson-Daniel L, Clarfield AM, Sarid O. Teaching and Practicing Cognitive-Behavioral and Mindfulness Skills in a Web-Based Platform among Older Adults through the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010563. [PMID: 34682309 PMCID: PMC8536173 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an acceleration in the development of web-based interventions to alleviate related mental health impacts. The current study explored the effects of a short-term digital group intervention aimed at providing cognitive behavioral and mindfulness tools and skills to reduce loneliness and depression and to increase social support among older adults in Israel. This pilot randomized controlled trial included community-dwelling older adults (n = 82; aged between 65–90 years; 80% female) who were randomized either to an intervention group (n = 64) or a wait-list control group (n = 18). The intervention included seven online sessions, over 3.5 weeks. Depression, loneliness, and social support measures were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at 1-month follow-up. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed statistically and clinically significant reductions in depression in the intervention group, with results maintained at one-month follow-up. Loneliness levels also significantly decreased post-intervention; however, this benefit was not maintained at one-month follow-up. Social support slightly increased both post-intervention and 1-month follow-up—but these changes were not statistically significant. There were no overall changes for the wait-list control group. Our intervention provided promising evidence regarding the effectiveness of an online group intervention to alleviate mental health effects and to promote the coping of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. This relatively simple model can be effectively utilized by communities globally to help connect lonely and isolated older inhabitants, both during the pandemic and in more routine times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stav Shapira
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- PREPARED Center for Emergency Response Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ella Cohn-Schwartz
- The Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Daphna Yeshua-Katz
- Department of Communication Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Limor Aharonson-Daniel
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- PREPARED Center for Emergency Response Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Avram Mark Clarfield
- Medical School for International Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
- The Department of Geriatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Orly Sarid
- The Spitzer Department of Social Work, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
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Lee MA, Ferraro KF, Kim G. Digital technology use and depressive symptoms among older adults in Korea: beneficial for those who have fewer social interactions? Aging Ment Health 2021; 25:1839-1847. [PMID: 33131296 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1839863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Our study examines the relationship between digital technology use and depressive symptoms among older Koreans and whether social interaction moderates the relationship. METHODS The data were drawn from the 2017 Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons, a nationally representative survey. Digital technology use was measured by the number of digital functions that respondents perform with their electronic devices. Social interactions were measured by the frequencies of face-to-face and remote connections with friends or neighbors. Relationships were estimated with multiple regression analyses. RESULTS Digital technology use was inversely associated with depressive symptoms even after adjusting for covariates including cognitive function. Both remote and face-to-face connections with friends or neighbors were associated with fewer depressive symptoms. An interaction between digital technology use and remote contact also was detected: the effect of digital technology use on depressive symptoms was more beneficial for older adults with infrequent remote contact with friends or neighbors than for those with frequent remote contact. CONCLUSION Findings suggest that digital technology use can reduce depressive symptoms of older adults, especially those who have fewer social interactions. Educating older adults to increase their digital literacy level and use of remote interactions may improve their psychological wellbeing, perhaps even during times of a viral pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Ah Lee
- Department of Sociology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Kenneth F Ferraro
- Department of Sociology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.,Center on Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Giyeon Kim
- Department of Psychology, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
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