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Social support is associated with technology use in old age
Stefan T Kamin1, Anja Beyer2, Frieder R Lang2
1Institute of Psychogerontology, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Kobergerstr. 62, 90408, Nuremberg, Germany. stefan.kamin@fau.de.
Zeitschrift Fur Gerontologie Und Geriatrie
|March 17, 2019
Summary
Social support significantly enhances older adults' technology use. Receiving actual support, influenced by perceived resources and functional abilities, increases engagement with digital devices for healthy aging.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Sociology of Technology
Background:
- Technological innovations are crucial for healthy aging and social participation in older adults.
- Understanding the influence of social contexts on older adults' technology adoption is limited.
- This study investigates the interplay between technology use, perceived support, and actual social support for technology among seniors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the associations between technology use, perceived technology-related support, and actual technology-related social support in older adults.
- To determine if perceived support predicts actual support received.
- To examine how actual support mediates the relationship between perceived support, functional limitations, and technology use.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 107 community-dwelling older adults (aged 60-93) participated.
- Data collected via self-reports on actual/perceived technology support, digital device usage, and personal characteristics.
- Path modeling was employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships.
Main Results:
- Actual technology-related support received was positively correlated with a higher number of digital devices used.
- Perceived availability of supportive resources predicted greater actual support received.
- Actual support mediated the effects of perceived support and functional limitations on technology use.
Conclusions:
- Supportive behaviors are directly associated with increased technology use among older adults.
- Individual and contextual factors significantly influence the actual support older adults receive for technology use.
- Findings highlight the importance of social support systems in facilitating digital inclusion for seniors.
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