Table 1.4.
Summary of results.
| Author and Year | Aim | Social concepts | Key outcomes | Study types | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital communication tool ‘called In touch' | Judges, Laanemets, Stern, and Baecker (2017) | Patterns of use of ‘InTouch’ by older adults over 3-months, relationships between demographic, health and social profiles and adoption of ‘InTouch’, effect ‘InTouch’ may have on socioemotional well-being | Motivation, social difficulties, health issues, experience with learning | Positive communication changes, positive relationship changes, technology is easy to use with one-on-one support. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Networked individuals exhibit certain network older adults network attributes, such as network diversity and relational autonomy | Wang, Zhang, and Wellman (2018) | In depth and face to face interviews with older adults to find out whether they are really networked individuals and how much they rely on social networks | Older adults were socially connected, their networks were limited, hence they were not networked individuals | Digital media expanded geographical reach of older adults' social networks,facilitated communication with peers and younger generations, helped organize social and group events, promoted diversity, and augmented exchange of social support | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Technology benefits have crucial implications for users' socio-economic mobility as well as their social wellbeing. | Ihm and Hsieh (2015) | Older adults' uses of technology and disparities in use | New theoretical insight in the implications of digital inequality for the seemingly related concepts of online and offline social activities. | The essence of technology access and use lies in the well-being of the users and their abilities to deploy technology rather than in mere access to it | Quantitative evaluation |
| Evaluated the impact of a specially designed computer system for older adults | Czaja, Boot, Charness, Rogers, and Sharit (2018) | Access to PRISM to enhance social connectivity and reduce loneliness among older adults, change attitudes toward technology and increase technology self-efficacy. | Computer proficiency, reduced social connections and attitudes toward technology use to connect to others | An increase in computer self efficacy, proficiency, and comfort with computers for PRISM participants at 6 and 12 months. | Quantitative evaluation |
| Communication preferences and patterns of use of technology with emphasis on technologically-mediated environments. | Yuan, Hussain, Hales, & Cotten, 2016 | Examine older adults' communication patterns and preferences with family members and friends, as well as their views about the impacts of modern technology on communication | Three themes: communication preferences and reasons, communication barriers, the impacts of technology | Face-to-face communication is the most preferred method, telephone communication is the most adopted method. Interviewees also shared different opinions regarding Internet-based communication. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Mobile phone use during face-to-face interactions | Kadylak et al. (2018) | Older adults' perceptions of mobile phone use during face-to-face interactions and social gatherings | Mobile phone behavior displayed by younger family members during face-to-face interactions and family gatherings breaches expectations | Older adults view mobile phone etiquette of younger people as offensive and disruptive, potentially exacerbating intergenerational divides |
Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Online social network use by older adults | Vošner, Bobek, Kokol & Krečič (2016) | Factors affecting the use of online social networks by active older Internet users | How often, and to what extent, active older Internet users are engaged with the society in using technology and how they connect with others. | Female participants are more familiar with ‘online social network’ and more frequent users, compared to males. Age, gender and education seem to be the most important factors having a direct or indirect impact on the use of online social networks. | Quantitative evaluation |
| Patterns of information communication technology use | Vroman, Arthanat, and Lysack (2015) | Technology experiences, and socio-personal characteristics of older adults and analysis of dispositional correlates of technology adoption. | Participants used technology to maintain family and social connections and to access information on health and routine activities. | The older population's age, education, attitudes, and personalities influence how they approach technology | Quantitative evaluation |
| Information communication technology use | Chai and Kalyal (2019) | Explores the relationship between cell phone use and self-reported happiness among older adults | Happiness of Chinese older adults is affected by a growing shift in traditional family values due to the unprecedented economic growth. | Using own cell phone is positively associated with self-reported happiness among Chinese older adults | Quantitative evaluation |
| IT and the older adult quality of life | Chen, Downey, McGaughey, and Jin (2016) | Attitudes and behaviors as they relate to the use of technology | Insight into quantity and diversity of senior technology use in urban China, potential factors that motivate or hinder senior's use of information, comfort with technology, and positive and negative attitudes. | Majority of respondents have been exposed to IT and participated in its use. Cell phone use far exceeded computer use. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Cell phone and computer for online shopping by older adults and reduce social isolation | Dennis et al. (2016) | Social exclusion affects consumer use of multiple shopping channels and how these choices affect consumers' happiness and wellbeing. | Cellphones are important for socially excluded people. Supports their shopping activities and improves happiness and well-being. | Shopping by cell phone significantly ameliorates the negative effects of social exclusion on happiness and wellbeing for consumers with mobility/disability issues. | Surveys of older adults' use of technology |
| Technology acceptance in older adults | Coleman, Gibson, Hanson, Bobrowicz,& McKay (2010) | Issues of technology non-acceptance amongst older adults | Current technology use by the informants while keeping in mind possible technology solutions, by identifying activities they would like to do | Work designed to incorporate the values of older adults within the technology design process. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Internet use and wellbeing of older adults | Pierewan, & Tampubolon, 2014 | Association between Internet use and well-being before and during the financial crisis in Europe which started in 2007. | Internet use increases the wellbeing through communication with family during the economic crisis | Internet use explains well-being differently at different times due to financial constraints at a time of crisis, people tend to substitute offline companionship with online social interaction. | Quantitative evaluation |
| Internet use and wellbeing of older adults | Sum, Mathews, Pourghasem, and Hughes (2009) | Internet use and seniors' sense of community and well-being | Internet use associated with higher satisfaction with health, contact with family and friends, involvement with hobbies or interests, and overall happiness | Seniors' use of the Internet for communication and information, and the frequency and history of their Internet use, is related to a greater sense of community. | Surveys of older adults' use of technology |
| Internet use and satisfaction of older adults | Heo, Kim, & Won, 2011 | How the Internet is related to leisure satisfaction | The relationship between older adults' leisure satisfaction and their affinity for the Internet. | Those who are likely to acknowledge the importance of the Internet tend to be satisfied with using it as a leisure activity. | Quantitative evaluation |
| Regular internet use and self-reported life satisfaction | Lelkes (2013) | Does internet use make older people less or more lonely? Does it crowd out face-to-face contacts or enhance them | Personal social meetings and virtual contacts are complimentary to each other for older adults | People still want to see each other personally if they have interaction via the internet. Internet use is associated with lower social isolation among those aged 65 or over | Surveys of older adults' use of technology |
| Older adults respond to audiovisual virtual reality | Roberts, De Schutter, Franks, and Radina (2019) | How older adults living in a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) respond to audiovisual communication and virtual reality | Maximizing positive aspects of virtual reality through increasing interactivity, facilitating socializing with friends or family, and enhancing older adults' ease of use. | Virtual reality was reviewed positively, yet modifications are necessary to facilitate optimal user experience and potential benefit for this population. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Experiential account of older adults' use of, and attitudes towards, digital technology and the impact of digital technology use on their wellbeing. | Hill, Betts, & Gardner (2015) | How older adults use digital technology, impact of digital technology on older adults' wellbeing, attitudes towards digital technology | Digital technology as a tool to disempower and empower older adults. Clusters of talk expressing barriers, negative consequences, and debilitating impacts of technology on individuals and their perception of the wider community and empowering aspects of digital technology. | Value of technology as an empowering entity that could facilitate daily activities and maintain social relationships whilst successfully overcoming physical and geographical barriers. Also disempower and without appropriate skills or measures tackle fear associated with technology use. | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Wellbeing effects of internet use among older adults in deprived communities | Kearns and Whitley (2019) | Potential effects of internet access in older adults of deprived communities, distinguish between internet access via mobile phone or home computer | Use of the internet and frequency of access at home, via a mobile phone, in a public venue, or other means. | Inequalities in internet access within deprived communities, use of internet lowest among older people, those with a long-standing illness, and those with no educational qualifications | Quantitative evaluation |
| How technology facilitates social connection | Baecker, Sellen, Crosskey, Boscart, and Barbosa Neves (2014) | Integrating the existing common forms of communication, such as email and use of a smartphone by family member to a communicate with a senior | Technology use for social connections for the seniors in retirement communities and in long-term care settings like nursing homes. | Elicits communication needs and patterns of people in environments often associated with social isolation, and the role that technology plays in facilitating social connection | Qualitative evaluation, Smaller scale design, pilot and/or prototype evaluations |
| Use of mHealth in seniors | Jaana & Pare (2020) | Use of mHealth technologies in older adults and general population and explores the factors related to their use. | Seniors' attitudes toward and use of mHealth technologies for self-tracking purposes, factors that influence the continued usage of mHealth technologies | High satisfaction rate with mHealth and favorable conditions for their use. Many have already acquired these technologies, presents an opportunity to leverage them, beyond basic communication use, to support their wellbeing | Quantitative evaluation |
| Seniors' use of technology in critical settings | Karanasios, Cooper, Adrot, & Mercieca (2020) | Seniors use of technology mediated information behavior during disasters in a state of Australia and the challenges seniors face in accessing relevant information and using TECHNOLOGY. | Seniors embody and tap into local knowledge, mingle offline and take online cues about emergency situations, and maintain trust towards institutions. | Seniors are not simply passive victims and highlighting their appetite for precise and reliable information. When faced with incomplete or absent official information they can draw on technology to share information, connect and fill information needs | Interview-based qualitative evaluation |
| Socializing online and general anxiety among older adults | Hunsaker, Hargittai, & Piper (2020) | Examine the relationship between varying ways of socializing online and general anxiety. | There is a need to consider the ways that varying kinds of online social interactions relate to mental health and the unique relationships | Relationship between differing ways of socializing online and symptoms of anxiety, while controlling for socio-demographics, social context, Internet experiences, Internet skills, and health. | Surveys of older adults' use of technology |
| Benefits of advanced technologies | Talmage et al. (2020) | Examine the connections between use of technology and older adult well-being | Loneliness cannot be broadly mitigated by providing access to car and driver services. Practitioners should introduce seniors to ride-sharing services | Older adults may be more skilled at using tablets/computers to access the internet as opposed to cellphones, based on smartphone utilization estimates | Quantitative evaluation |
| Digital training to older adults. | Fields et al.,. 2020 | Evaluate impact of technology training on older adults' loneliness, social support, and technology use in real-world settings and assess barriers and facilitators to technology training implementation | Participant's personality match with their instructor for technology was central to their program experience | Digital literacy among participants was low overall, but participants' feelings of connection related to improving technology skills and digital literacy | Mixed-method evaluation |