Older adults' Internet use behavior and its association with accelerometer-derived physical activity

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Digital Health

Background:

• The global aging population necessitates strategies to enhance health and well-being in older adults.
• Physical activity (PA) is crucial for maintaining health in older adults, yet objective measurement methods are underutilized in internet-based interventions.
• The internet presents a potential avenue for promoting PA among seniors, but its impact on objective PA levels requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the frequency of internet use and objectively measured physical activity levels in older adults aged 65 and above.
• To determine if varying levels of internet engagement correlate with differences in daily step counts and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 172 adults aged 65+ with independent walking ability and no cognitive impairment.
• Physical activity was objectively measured using triaxial accelerometers and step counts.
• Internet use was self-reported and categorized into high, moderate, and low/no use.

Main Results:

• Older adults using the internet with moderate frequency achieved significantly higher daily step counts (7,888 steps) compared to those with low or no use (6,070.6 steps).
• Individuals with low or no internet use were less likely to meet World Health Organization (WHO) physical activity recommendations (OR: 0.242, 95% CI: 0.077-0.751).

Conclusions:

• Moderate internet use is positively associated with higher physical activity levels and adherence to WHO PA guidelines in older adults.
• These findings suggest that internet engagement may be a valuable factor in promoting physical activity and mitigating age-related health risks.
• Interventions aimed at increasing PA in older adults could potentially leverage internet access and moderate usage patterns.