Mediating effect of social support on the relationship between older adults’ use of social media and their quality-of-life

Abstract

This study examined the mediating effect of social support on the relationship between older adults’ use of social media and their quality-of-life. We analyzed the 2016 Digital Divide Index of the Korea National Information Society Agency (NIA). Differences in the use of social media, social support, and quality-of-life according to demographic characteristics were assessed via χ2, t−tests, and ANOVA with post-hoc tests (Tukey) using SPSS 23.0. To test the relationships among use of social media, social support, and quality-of-life, regression analysis and the Sobel test were used. The results showed that greater use of social media and perceived social support was present in men versus women, 65–74 year-olds versus those older than 75 years old, those with more education, and those with higher income. The frequency of use of social media by the older adults was low at 24.7% for those 65–74 years old and 5.0% for those older than 75 years old. This results revealed a mediating effect of social support on the relationship between use of social media and quality-of-life and confirmed the mediating effect of social support. Use of social media had not only a direct effect on quality-of-life, but also an indirect effect through social support.