The Effect of ICT Utilization Competency on the Psychological Well-being of the Elderly in the Post-Corona Era: Focusing on the Self-Esteem of the Elderly

Abstract

The study assesses how levels of competency in using smart devices and actual use of social media services were associated with elderly people’s self-esteem. Given that the Covid-19 pandemic remains an ongoing phenomenon, social interactions using smart devices appears to be more relevant to the psychological well-being of the elderly than ever before. The study utilized the Korean Media Panel Survey collected by Korea Information Society Development Institute (KISDI) in 2018 and 2020. The study found that elderly people who were able to use smart devices tended to use more internet media services and reported higher levels of self-esteem than those who did not. In particular, respondents who experienced increasing competency in their use of smart devices reported high levels of self-esteem. In addition, older adults living alone were less likely to access social media and more vulnerable in terms of psychological well-being. The study suggests that social services that improve competency in the use of smart devices and encourage social media use can enhance psychological well-being among the elderly, who may have difficulties in maintaining social interactions.