Correlates of, and Barriers to, Internet Use Among Older Adults

Older adults constitute the group with the greatest increase in Internet usage in the past decade; however, usage varies greatly within this population. Services to older adults require a current understanding of Internet-use trends. This study utilized a quantitative survey method to examine correlates of, and barriers to, current Internet use in a demographically diverse county in Southern California. Findings indicate that the presence of a computer at home, a job requiring computer use, age, education, and ethnicity are important factors in predicting Internet use in older adults. Implications for social work practice with older adults is discussed.

[1]  Roger W. Morrell,et al.  Pro-Nets Versus No-Nets: Differences in Urban Older Adults' Predilections for Internet Use , 2010 .

[2]  Galen A. Grimes,et al.  Older Adults' Knowledge of Internet Hazards , 2010 .

[3]  A. Barak,et al.  Promoting older adults’ well-being through Internet training and use , 2007, Aging & mental health.

[4]  Michelle Dorin,et al.  Online Education of Older Adults and its Relation to Life Satisfaction , 2007 .

[5]  K. Echt,et al.  Predictors of Reported Internet Use in Older Adults with High and Low Health Literacy: The Role of Socio-Demographics and Visual and Cognitive Function , 2011 .

[6]  Felicia R. Doswell,et al.  Lifelong Learning: Becoming Computer Savvy at a Later Age , 2008 .

[7]  Karin Slegers,et al.  Computer use in older adults: Determinants and the relationship with cognitive change over a 6 year episode , 2012, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[8]  G. Johnson,et al.  Internet Use and Psychological Wellness during Late Adulthood* , 2011, Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement.

[9]  S. Cutler,et al.  Age differences in home computer availability and use. , 2003, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[10]  D. Bouwhuis,et al.  Older adults' motivated choice for technological innovation: evidence for benefit-driven selectivity. , 2006, Psychology and aging.

[11]  Brian D. Carpenter,et al.  Computer use among older adults in a naturally occurring retirement community , 2007, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[12]  Pamela F. Wendt,et al.  Silver surfers: Training and evaluating internet use among older adult learners , 1999 .

[13]  Sara J. Czaja,et al.  The impact of aging on access to technology , 2005, ASAC.

[14]  Rita L. Rosenthal.  Older Computer-Literate Women: Their Motivations, Obstacles, and Paths to Success , 2008 .

[15]  Ian Hughes,et al.  Internet Use as a Predictor of Sense of Community in Older People , 2009, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[16]  Maryalice Jordan-Marsh,et al.  Predictors of Computer Use in Community-Dwelling, Ethnically Diverse Older Adults , 2011, Hum. Factors.

[17]  D. Commerce.  Statistical abstract of the United States , 1978 .

[18]  N. Selwyn,et al.  Older adults' use of information and communications technology in everyday life , 2003, Ageing and Society.

[19]  N. Charness,et al.  Factors Predicting the Use of Technology: Findings From the Center for Research and Education on Aging and Technology Enhancement (CREATE) , 2006 .

[20]  Susan L. Gatto,et al.  Computer, Internet, and E-mail Use Among Older Adults: Benefits and Barriers , 2008 .

[21]  Peter Caputi,et al.  Comparison of older and younger adults' attitudes towards and abilities with computers: Implications for training and learning , 2010, Br. J. Educ. Technol..

[22]  Lee Rainie.  A Biography of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project , 2012 .

[23]  Yiwei Chen,et al.  INTERNET USE AMONG YOUNG AND OLDER ADULTS: RELATION TO PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING , 2002 .

[24]  Bo Xie,et al.  Public library computer training for older adults to access high-quality Internet health information. , 2009, Library & information science research.

[25]  Peter Gregor,et al.  Computer use has no demonstrated impact on the well-being of older adults , 2006, Int. J. Hum. Comput. Stud..

[26]  Shelia R. Cotten,et al.  Rural-Urban Differences in General and Health-Related Internet Use , 2010 .

[27]  Gustavo S. Mesch,et al.  ETHNIC DIFFERENCES IN INTERNET ACCESS , 2011 .

[28]  A. D. Fisk,et al.  Training older adults to use new technology. , 2007, The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences.

[29]  Raymond L. Ownby.  Making the Internet a Friendlier Place for Older People , 2006 .

[30]  Paul Higgs,et al.  Internet use and the digital divide in the English longitudinal study of ageing , 2008, European journal of ageing.

[31]  Joseph Sharit,et al.  Use of and satisfaction with sources of health information among older Internet users and nonusers. , 2009, The Gerontologist.

[32]  E. Clipp,et al.  A randomized controlled trial of the psychosocial impact of providing internet training and access to older adults , 2002, Aging & mental health.

[33]  Rod P. Githens,et al.  OLDER ADULTS AND E-LEARNING Opportunities and Barriers , 2007 .

[34]  Ian Hughes,et al.  Internet Use and Loneliness in Older Adults , 2008, Cyberpsychology Behav. Soc. Netw..

[35]  Milena M. Head,et al.  Computer use by older adults: A multi-disciplinary review , 2010, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[36]  A. Chu,et al.  "Partnering with Seniors for Better Health": computer use and Internet health information retrieval among older adults in a low socioeconomic community. , 2009, Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA.

[37]  Junhyoung Kim,et al.  Exploring the Relationship Between Internet Use and Leisure Satisfaction Among Older Adults , 2011 .

[38]  Robert J. McDermott,et al.  Internet Use and Social Networking Among Middle Aged and Older Adults , 2010 .

[39]  Maria Karavidas,et al.  The effects of computers on older adult users , 2005, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[40]  T. Welbourne,et al.  AFFORDABLE CARE ACT , 2012 .

[41]  Marcela D. Rodríguez,et al.  Home-based communication system for older adults and their remote family , 2009, Comput. Hum. Behav..

[42]  Sally J. McMillan,et al.  Strengthening the Safety Net for Online Seniors: Factors Influencing Differences in Health Information Seeking Among Older Internet Users , 2008, Journal of health communication.

[43]  Gordon B. Davis,et al.  User Acceptance of Information Technology: Toward a Unified View , 2003, MIS Q..

[44]  Wee Kim Wee.  LOW-INCOME MINORITY SENIORS ’ ENROLLMENT IN A CYBERCAFÉ : PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS TO CROSSING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE , 2011 .

[45]  Jeremy Harris Lipschultz,et al.  ELDERLY AMERICANS AND THE INTERNET: E-MAIL, TV NEWS, INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT WEBSITES , 2004 .

[46]  N. Charness,et al.  Aging and Information Technology Use , 2009 .