Abstract
AbstractDespite older people's increasing use of social media (SM), there is relatively little research investigating the impact of SM use on wellbeing in the ageing population. This study investigates the relationship between SM use and life satisfaction, a key dimension of wellbeing, in three age groups. We focus on the Italian case, which is particularly relevant because Italy is one of the countries both with the highest incidence of older people and the lowest uptake of SM in Europe. Applying linear regression modelling techniques, we analyse data from the 2018 Multipurpose Survey – Aspects of Everyday Living, a large probability-based household survey. For two age groups, we find a positive relationship between SM use and life satisfaction which weakens after controlling for older people's demographic and socio-economic characteristics, health conditions and social network characteristics. Given the grey digital divide that still exists in some European countries, we conclude with a call for urgent interventions to remove the hurdles that prevent frail older people from enjoying the benefits of an active ageing, fully exploiting the potential of SM use.
Highlights
The aim of our study is to provide an in-depth investigation of the relationship between social media (SM) use and life satisfaction in old age, net of possible characteristics that may confound the nature of this association, including older people’s health conditions and social network characteristics
Model 1 shows that for all age groups, there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between SM use and life satisfaction. This relationship is stronger for older people aged 75 or over; for this age group, SM use increases life satisfaction by nearly one point on a 0–10 scale (0.8, p = 0.000)
After controlling for the factors that may confound the nature of this relationship (Model 2), the association between SM use and life satisfaction still persists, the coefficients are smaller and, in the case of the 65–74 age group, the resulting coefficient is not significant ( p = 0.082) at standard significance levels
Summary
The proportion of the population aged 65+, which was approximately 9 per cent in 2019, is set to reach nearly 12 per cent in 2030 and 16 per cent by 2050 (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2019). Western regions, such as Europe and North America, currently have the highest population aged 65+ share (18% in 2019), and this share is forecasted to increase. In particular, is one of the countries with the oldest population, recording the highest median age in Europe (Eurostat, 2019).
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