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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

A Training Program Using an Agility Ladder for Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Published on: March 7, 2020
Computer-mediated communication and social support among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review of
Belinda G Fuss1, Diana Dorstyn1, Lynn Ward1
1School of Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Objective:
To systematically assess the relationship between computer-mediated communication and social function in older adults aged 55 or older.
Methods:
Embase, PsycINFO and PubMed were searched (database inception to December 2018). Where available, effect sizes (correlation r) with 95% confidence intervals and P values were calculated for individual studies. Of 4,139 eligible articles retrieved, 17 studies involving a pooled sample of 17,640 participants were included.
Results:
Frequent computer-mediated communication was significantly, albeit weakly, associated with higher levels of social support and connectedness (r range = 0.08 to 0.33, P < 0.05). One discrepant negative relationship was noted (r = -0.16, 95% CI [-0.30, -0.02], P = 0.03), involving a distinct sample of gamers.
Conclusions:
Computer-mediated communication is related to amount of social functioning in older adults, although the causal nature of this relationship requires further longitudinal investigation. Sample confounds (eg socio-economic status and successful ageing) may limit the interpretation of these findings.
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