"Easy Life or Chaos?": Older Adults' Digital Experiences, Well-Being, and Patterns of Engagement: A Qualitative Study

IntroductionDigital technologies have become integral to everyday life; however, older adults' engagement remains uneven. This study aimed to explore how older adults interpret digital technologies and make sense of their digital experiences, with particular attention to how these experiences relate to well-being in later life.MethodsThis qualitative study adopted a phenomenological orientation. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 22 adults aged 65 and over in Türkiye. Participants were selected using maximum variation and snowball sampling strategies to ensure diversity. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach.ResultsFive interrelated themes were identified: meanings attributed to digital, digital experiences (facilitators and barriers), impacts on well-being, coping and adaptation strategies, and needs in digital processes. Digital engagement was experienced as both enabling and constraining. Facilitating experiences supported social connection, daily functioning, and health-related practices, while barriers included limited digital literacy, economic constraints, and experiences of ageism. These experiences generated cognitive, behavioral, and emotional impacts, ranging from autonomy, engagement, and satisfaction to fear, withdrawal, dependence, and reduced confidence. Importantly, emotional responses functioned as mechanisms shaping patterns of engagement or avoidance. Participants adopted both self-directed and support-seeking coping strategies and emphasized educational, technical, and social needs for meaningful digital participation.ConclusionDigital engagement in later life is a dynamic process shaped by structural, emotional, and social factors. Digital inclusion should be addressed as a determinant of well-being, requiring integrated approaches that combine digital literacy training, age-friendly design, and socially supportive environments.