Abstract
Given the paucity of data on the use of internet and quality of life (QoL), this literature review aimed to identify the motivations and barriers for internet use and the impact on QoL on older adults using the internet. Even though older adults are increasingly using information technology, the numbers remain quite small globally. Currently published research primarily focuses on the various ways and methods of information technology use by older adults and the factors influencing use rather than on the impact of information technology on QoL of older adults. The studies included in this literature review were searched in three databases: WEB of Science, GoogleScholar and PubMed. English language articles were searched using the terms 'older', 'elderly', 'senior', 'well-being', 'life satisfaction', 'quality of life', 'internet' and "computer". The review demonstrated the association of internet use on QoL in older adults. The majority of the studies substantiate the advantages of internet use by older adults including the ability to communicate with family and friends, maintain a wide social network, have access to information and participate in online leisure activities. There are some studies, though less in number, which did not find a relationship between well-being and use of internet by older adults. The policy implications of this review advocate a multidimensional strategy to support internet use by the older people incorporating internet training and education, financial issues, technical support and access needs to be developed.
Highlights
As the population is ageing, there has been an increasing focus on a better quality of life (QoL), and the concept of active ageing has started to generate interest amongst researchers, academicians and policy-makers
The studies that investigated the health impact or use of assisted technologies in the healthcare domain did not focus on well-being/life satisfaction/ QoL of older adults, and those studies which focused on specific groups of older adults such as immigrants those with physical disabilities were excluded from the review considering the differences associated with using the internet compared with those without physical disabilities
On review of the published studies, there is an indication that the use of internet by older adults helps to improve life satisfaction and well-being
Summary
As the population is ageing, there has been an increasing focus on a better quality of life (QoL), and the concept of active ageing has started to generate interest amongst researchers, academicians and policy-makers. The determinants of QoL for the older adults commonly include individual factors such as health, physical activity, socio-economic stability and personal control, and network factors such as social life, relationship with family, a care network and support system (Walker and Mollenkopf, 2007). The role of technologies including the internet in influencing QoL of the older adults has generally been a less explored theme globally and in developing countries. With the increasing use of technology in everyday life, understanding the role of the internet on the QoL of the older population is important.
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