Older Adults’ Adaptations to the Call for Social Distancing and Use of Technology: Insights From Socioemotional Selectivity Theory and Lived Experiences

Abstract

Social distancing guidelines during COVID can be isolating, especially for older adults, with potential for poor health outcomes. Technology offers opportunities for remote connection, yet, older adults’ use of and perspectives on technology during this time remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into older adults’ technology use and preferences to inform the development of a technology training intervention to support older adult well-being. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 older adults. Interviews were analyzed using an iterative, constant comparison approach. Findings were consistent with Socioemotional Selectivity Theory; respondents were primarily interested in technology to support emotionally meaningful goals. Participants indicated limited interest in technology training, referencing diminished future time perspectives to explain disinterest. Findings suggest that efforts to encourage older adults’ expanded technology adoption should highlight how use supports emotionally meaningful goals and provide low-effort, timely training, tied to specific and clear applications.

The impact of COVID‐19 on the psychosocial well‐being of older adults: A literature review

“…Emotional stability in older adults is attributed to maintaining a balance through experience, coping strategies, and emotional control. SST research also supports that older adults maintain a greater sense of social and emotional well‐being even during times of crisis such as a pandemic (Bardach et al, 2021; Carstensen et al, 2020; Jiang, 2020).…”

“…The Socioemotional Selectivity Theory (SST) provides a framework for examining the association between age and socioemotional well‐being. The SST model was proposed by Carstensen (1987) and has been refined, researched, and validated in numerous studies (Abu‐Kamel & Alnazly, 2021; Bardach et al, 2021; Carstensen, 1992; Carstensen et al, 2020: Jiang, 2020; Patrick et al, 2021). The underlying premise of the theory postulates that social and emotional goals change based on the perception of time left to live (Carstensen, 2021; Carstensen & Hershfield, 2021).…”

“…Other psychological measures included the Impact of Events Scale‐Revised (ICS‐R) for PTSD and Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (Abu‐Kamel & Alnazly, 2021); Gratitude subscale of Values in Action Inventory of Strengths‐Short Form, and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire‐II (López et al, 2020). Despite the preponderance of standardized measures, several researchers utilized self‐made measures for determining psychological well‐being (Bardach et al, 2021; Carstensen et al, 2020; Fingerman et al, 2021; Fuller & Huseth‐Zosel, 2021).…”

Technology Learning and the Adoption of Telehealth Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults During the COVID-19 Outbreak

“…Unfortunately, approximately 13 million older adults (38%) were not ready to use video visits with healthcare providers during the COVID-19 outbreak, largely due to a lack of confidence in and inexperience with technology that is required to communicate with healthcare providers ( Lam et al, 2020 ). Furthermore, older adults can face distinct challenges in learning and navigating a new technology, such as frustration in their interactions with new technology ( Bardach et al, 2021 ; Rogers & Fisk, 2010 ).…”

Older Adults’ Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) Engagement Following COVID-19 and Its Impact on Access to Community, Information, and Resource Exchange: A Longitudinal, Qualitative Study

“…Despite a general upward trend in online social engagement among older adults, disaster studies still report that older adults are concerned about the migration of disaster notifications toward tech-based messaging platforms and social media ( Bardach et al, 2021 ; Brockie & Miller, 2017 ; Gibson et al, 2020 ) that may leave them without access to critical and timely information. Nevertheless a qualitative study by Bardach et al (2021) found that most older adults were not interested in technology training, reporting that they had met a level of technology proficiency that met their needs.…”