Impact of the use of the internet on quality of life in older adults: review of literature

Abstract

Aim: Given the paucity of data on the use of internet and quality of life (QoL), this literature review aimed to identify the motivations and barriers for internet use and the impact on QoL on older adults using the internet. Background: Even though older adults are increasingly using information technology, the numbers remain quite small globally. Currently published research primarily focuses on the various ways and methods of information technology use by older adults and the factors influencing use rather than on the impact of information technology on QoL of older adults. Methods: The studies included in this literature review were searched in three databases: WEB of Science, GoogleScholar and PubMed. English language articles were searched using the terms ‘older’, ‘elderly’, ‘senior’, ‘well-being’, ‘life satisfaction’, ‘quality of life’, ‘internet’ and “computer”. Findings: The review demonstrated the association of internet use on QoL in older adults. The majority of the studies substantiate the advantages of internet use by older adults including the ability to communicate with family and friends, maintain a wide social network, have access to information and participate in online leisure activities. There are some studies, though less in number, which did not find a relationship between well-being and use of internet by older adults. The policy implications of this review advocate a multidimensional strategy to support internet use by the older people incorporating internet training and education, financial issues, technical support and access needs to be developed.

More Frequent Internet Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic Associates with Enhanced Quality of Life and Lower Depression Scores in Middle-Aged and Older Adults

“…The current study found the effects of frequency of use to be highly significant ( p < 0.001 for QoL, and p = 0.01 for depression). While the majority of previous (pre-pandemic) studies have found similar relationships [ 9 , 14 ], some studies found no effects [ 24 ]; other discordant findings have been noted pre-pandemic, particularly for QoL [ 14 ]. Thus, the highly significant relationships between frequency of use and both QoL and depression symptoms identified here might be at least partly attributable to the social distancing and lockdown restrictions that were in place, supporting the notion that internet usage might be of particular benefit under these circumstances.…”

“…The current study provides valuable insight by exploring effects in a large, well-characterised sample, allowing important covariates (e.g., household wealth, education) to be controlled for. Further, well-validated outcome measures were used; this has been noted as a weakness of many previous studies into QoL in particular [ 14 ]. Frequency of internet use was seen to be high; when questioned about their internet use during the coronavirus outbreak, 57% reported using the internet more than once a day, and 45% reported using the internet more than before the outbreak.…”

“…Consistently with this, Sum and Mathews [ 13 ] found that older adults who used the internet as a communication tool had lower levels of loneliness, and better well-being. Another recent, critical, review [ 14 ] focused on use of the internet and QoL, concluding that the majority of studies found positive effects of internet use by older adults on QoL, particularly by enhancing communication with family and friends.…”

The Impact of an Internet Use Promotion Programme on Communication, Internet Use, and the Extent of Social Networks among Low-Income Older Adults

“…Though the importance of developing and maintaining good social networks increases with age (Nahm & Resnick, 2001 ; Nahm et al, 2004 ), older adults are increasingly likely to become socially isolated as their social networks decrease due to various factors, including the death of families and friends, disability, reduced mobility, and geographic relocation (Livingston, 2019 ; Mellor et al, 2008 ; Nahm & Resnick, 2001 ; Nahm et al, 2004 ). The internet can help older adults improve their social networks by circumventing some restrictions in communication (Aggarwal et al, 2020 ; Choi et al, 2012 ; Woodward et al, 2011 ). During the COVID-19 pandemic, however, many older adults have experienced both digital and social exclusions, since their lack of access to and skill with digital technologies has increased their social isolation (Seifart et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Although older adults are less likely than their younger peers to engage in computer and internet usage (Anderson & Perrin, 2017 ; Macdonald & Hulur, 2021 ; Zickuhr & Madden, 2012 ), such technological skills can be learned and adopted (Rosenthal, 2008 ; Sayago et al, 2013 ; Winstead et al, 2013 ). Many computer and internet intervention programmes have been shown to positively influence participants' social networks or social connectedness (Aggarwal et al, 2020 ; Chen & Schulz, 2016 ; Gardiner et al, 2018 ; Ibarra et al, 2020 ).…”