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Internet Use and Psychological Wellness during Late Adulthood*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2011

Julie Erickson  and
Genevieve M. Johnson
Julie Erickson*
Affiliation:
University of Manitoba
Genevieve M. Johnson
Affiliation:
Curtin University of Technology
*
†Correspondence and requests for offprints should be sent to / La correspondance et les demandes de tirés-à-part doivent être adressées à: Julie Erickson, M.A. candidate Department of Psychology University of Manitoba 190 Dysart Rd. Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 ([email protected])
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Abstract

An aging population is best served by social, personal, and health support focused on maintaining and maximizing personal independence. The Internet affords numerous opportunities for individuals of all ages to communicate, access information, and engage in recreational activities. A community-based sample of 122 adults over 60 years of age completed a questionnaire which assessed three clusters of characteristics: (a) frequency and patterns of Internet use, (b) well-being (loneliness, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, social support, and depression), and (c) demographics (age, income, education). Significant correlations emerged between the three clusters of measured variables. Controlling for demographic differences, Internet use and self-efficacy remained significantly related. Among the sample of older adults, individuals who used the Internet more had higher perceptions of self-efficacy than those who used the Internet rarely or not at all.

Résumé

Une population vieillissante est mieux servie par des services d’assistance socials, personnels et de la santé qui visent à maintenir et à maximiser l’autonomie personelle. L’Internet offre des opportunités nombreuses pour les individus de tous âges de commniquer, d’accéder aux informations, et de se livrer à des activités récréatives. Un échantillon à base communautaire de 122 adultes de plus de 60 ans ont rempli un questionnaire qui a évalué les trois groupes de caracteristiques : (a) la fréquence et les modes d’utilisation de l’Internet, (b) le bien-être (la solitude, la satisfaction de vie, l’auto-suffisance, les soutiens sociaux, et la dépression) et (c) les données démographiques (l’âge, le revenu, l’éducation). Des corrélations significatives sont apparues entre les trois groupes de variables mesurées. Tout en contrôlant les différences démographiques, l’utilisation d’Internet et de l’autosuffisance demeurent significativement corrélés. Parmi l’échantillon des personnes plus âgées, celles qui ont utilisé l’Internet plus présentaient une plus forte perception de leur efficacité que celles qui ont utilisé l’Internet que rarement ou pas du tout.

Keywords

personnes plus âgéesl’Internetbien-être psychologiqueviellissementcourrier électroniqueautosuffisanceolder adultsInternetpsychological wellnessagingemailself-efficacy
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 30 , Issue 2 , June 2011 , pp. 197 - 209
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2011

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Footnotes

*

Thank-you to Andrew Howell for much appreciated input.

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