LONGITUDINAL ANALYSIS OF INTERNET USE PATTERNS AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN THE U.S.

Abstract

AbstractAnalyses of internet use patterns among older adults using cross-sectional data have found that the rate of internet use is less with age. It is not clear, however, if older adults reduced internet use as they aged or they never used internet to begin with. Factors that affect technology adoption such as accessibility (cost and complexity of use) and social influences could change over time and influence internet use patterns. To investigate these issues we conducted a longitudinal study of internet use among older adults aged 50 and above from 2002–2014. We analyzed longitudinal data from the Health and Retirement Study using mixed effects logistic regression model to estimate the effect that various factors have on the likelihood of using internet in a given year. Rate of internet use in the sample increased from 30% in 2002 to 51% in 2014. After accounting for socio-demographic variables and several health and functional limitation indicators, we found significant cohort effects. Rate of internet use among younger age groups (50–69) was significantly higher in the baseline year and it also increased at a significant rate over time. Age groups 70 and older have significantly lower baseline rate of internet use and the change over time is mostly insignificant or small. Decline in internet use was associated with increasing impairments in vision, cognition, mobility and fine motor skills. Results inform researchers about internet use patterns in their target population and help determine when efforts will be required to ensure effective utilization of technology-based interventions.