The impact of ICT use on mental health among the elderly: policy and environmental perspectives

As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and social enterprises become drivers of economic growth, the nexus provides opportunities for new models of business to bring benefits to communities in developing countries. Recognising the complex dynamics and range of actors in this diverse and emerging sector, this study chooses to document the external influences, use and impact of ICT on social enterprises (SEs) -enterprises that have both a business and social development goal. The problem investigated is the potential gag between the rhetoric of the promise of e-business versus the dynamics of enactment and impacts of ICT in practice in the social enterprise sector. The main contribution of the research is to identify the real development impact of ICT use by social enterprises by assessing the role of ICTs in achieving their goals. Its major finding is that SEs social and business missions are inextricably linked .and their use of ICTs and benefits from it can be used as a proxy to assess ICTD. Thus SEs provide a new paradigm in the study of ICTD.

As Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and social enterprises become drivers of economic growth, the nexus provides opportunities for new models of business to bring benefits to communities in developing countries. Recognising the complex dynamics and range of actors in this diverse and emerging sector, this study chooses to document the external influences, use and impact of ICT on social enterprises (SEs)-enterprises that have both a business and social development goal. The problem investigated is the potential gap between the rhetoric of the 'promise of e-business' versus the dynamics of enactment and impacts of ICT in practice in the social enterprise sector. The main contribution of the research is to identify the real development impact of ICT use by social enterprises by assessing the role of ICTs in achieving their goals. Its major finding is that SEs' social and business missions are inextricably linked and their use of ICTs and benefits from it can be used as a proxy to assess ICTD. Thus SEs provide a new paradigm in the study of ICTD.

Over the Easter weekend of April 2012, thousands of people gathered in Sir John Guise stadium in Port Moresby to protest at the political crisis gripping the country. Social media played a significant role in organising these protests, and key bloggers addressed the crowd. The weekend’s events saw commentators mark it as the beginning of a ‘PNG Spring’ — a new era in Papua New Guinean politics driven by the upsurge in information and communication technology (ICT) use following the liberalisation of the telecommunications (telecoms) market in 2007. There is strong research on and evidence of the impact of ICT on economic growth and poverty reduction (Aker and Mbiti 2010; Qiang and Rossotto 2009). This impact is also evident in Papua New Guinea (despite there being little Papua New Guinea-specific research). The liberalisation of the telecoms market in 2007 led to a 0.7 per cent increase in GDP the following year, and innovative projects in microfinance and financial services draw on extensive experience elsewhere in the developing world (Digicel 2007; Muente-Kunigami 2011). These projects exploit ICT’s ability to ‘leapfrog’ infrastructure deficiencies — one of Papua New Guinea’s longstanding development obstacles. There is also abundant, though ultimately inconclusive, evidence on the political impact of ICT use. Various studies point to its benefits in terms of increased transparency — a positive impact on non-civil society and empowerment of marginalised groups (Ling 2004; Goodman 2005; Sinha 2005). However, there is little specific research on the political impact of ICT in Papua New Guinea. This paper begins to address this gap by drawing together and outlining existing research that points to the potential impact of ICT on Papua New Guinean politics. It asks: can ICT ‘leapfrog’ obstacles to a strong Papua New Guinea state such as weak political institutions and corruption? Does it intensify longstanding problems and introduce new ones? Or does it simply mean very little? The research is by no means conclusive and is often scarce, but this paper seeks to outline key issues and possibilities in a critical fashion and situate them in the Papua New Guinean context, laying the groundwork for future research. Section 1 outlines the dramatic increase in Papua New Guinea’s mobile coverage and internet access since 2007. Section 2 puts these increases into the context of literature on the political impact of increased ICT access, relating this literature to the particular circumstances of Papua New Guinean politics. This literature focuses on ICT as changing the way information flows among citizens and between citizens and the state, and the impact of these increased information flows on political practice. This section focuses specifically on the following potential effects of increased information flows: 1) increased transparency; 2) changes in collective political identity, including changes in the nature of civil society and changes in protest politics, and; 3) changes in political participation, including changes in gender politics and the role of the diaspora. The paper concludes by proposing two key themes for further research on this topic in Papua New Guinea.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, information and communication technology (ICT) became crucial for staying connected with loved ones and accessing health services. In this scenario, disparities in ICT use may have exacerbated other forms of inequality, especially among older adults who were less familiar with technology and more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 health consequences. This study investigated changes in ICT use, psychological and physical health, and social capital before and after the pandemic among the oldest old population (aged 80 years or older after the pandemic) and explored how internet use influenced these changes. We leveraged data from the InveCe.Ab study, a population-based longitudinal cohort of people born between 1935 and 1939 and living in Abbiategrasso, a municipality on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. Participants underwent multidimensional assessment at baseline (2010) and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 years. We restricted our analysis to cohort members who participated in the last wave (ie, 2022) and who did not have a diagnosis of dementia (n=391). We used linear mixed models to assess the impact of COVID-19 and time on changes in social capital, physical and psychological health, and ICT use in a discontinuity regression design while controlling for age, sex, education, and income satisfaction. Then, we assessed the influence of internet use and its interaction with COVID-19 on these changes. COVID-19 had a significant impact on social relationships (β=-4.35, 95% CI 6.38 to -2.32; P<.001), cultural activities (β=-.55, 95% CI -0.75 to -0.35; P<.001), cognitive functioning (β=-1.00, 95% CI -1.28 to -0.72; P<.001), depressive symptoms (β=.42, 95% CI 0.10-0.74; P=.009), physical health (β=.07, 95% CI 0.04-0.10; P<.001), and ICT use (β=-.11, 95% CI -0.18 to -0.03; P=.008). Internet use predicts reduced depressive symptoms (β=-.56, 95% CI -1.07 to -0.06; P=.03) over time. The interaction between internet use and COVID-19 was significant for cultural activities (β=-.73, 95% CI -1.22 to -0.24; P=.003) and cognitive functioning (β=1.36, 95% CI 0.67-2.05; P<.001). The pandemic had adverse effects on older adults' health and social capital. Contrary to expectations, even ICT use dropped significantly after the pandemic. Internet users maintained higher psychological health regardless of time and COVID-19 status. However, COVID-19 was associated with a steeper decline in cognitive functioning among internet nonusers. Policy makers may develop initiatives to encourage ICT adoption among older adults or strengthen their digital skills. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01345110; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01345110.

BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, information and communication technology (ICT) became crucial for staying connected with loved ones and accessing health services. In this scenario, disparities in ICT use may have exacerbated other forms of inequality, especially among older adults who were less familiar with technology and more vulnerable to severe COVID-19 health consequences. OBJECTIVE This study investigated changes in ICT use, psychological and physical health, and social capital before and after the pandemic among the oldest old population (aged 80 years or older after the pandemic) and explored how internet use influenced these changes. METHODS We leveraged data from the InveCe.Ab study, a population-based longitudinal cohort of people born between 1935 and 1939 and living in Abbiategrasso, a municipality on the outskirts of Milan, Italy. Participants underwent multidimensional assessment at baseline (2010) and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 years. We restricted our analysis to cohort members who participated in the last wave (ie, 2022) and who did not have a diagnosis of dementia (n=391). We used linear mixed models to assess the impact of COVID-19 and time on changes in social capital, physical and psychological health, and ICT use in a discontinuity regression design while controlling for age, sex, education, and income satisfaction. Then, we assessed the influence of internet use and its interaction with COVID-19 on these changes. RESULTS COVID-19 had a significant impact on social relationships (β=–4.35, 95% CI 6.38 to –2.32; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), cultural activities (β=–.55, 95% CI –0.75 to –0.35; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), cognitive functioning (β=–1.00, 95% CI –1.28 to –0.72; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), depressive symptoms (β=.42, 95% CI 0.10-0.74; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.009), physical health (β=.07, 95% CI 0.04-0.10; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001), and ICT use (β=–.11, 95% CI –0.18 to –0.03; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.008). Internet use predicts reduced depressive symptoms (β=–.56, 95% CI –1.07 to –0.06; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.03) over time. The interaction between internet use and COVID-19 was significant for cultural activities (β=–.73, 95% CI –1.22 to –0.24; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;=.003) and cognitive functioning (β=1.36, 95% CI 0.67-2.05; &lt;i&gt;P&lt;/i&gt;&lt;.001). CONCLUSIONS The pandemic had adverse effects on older adults’ health and social capital. Contrary to expectations, even ICT use dropped significantly after the pandemic. Internet users maintained higher psychological health regardless of time and COVID-19 status. However, COVID-19 was associated with a steeper decline in cognitive functioning among internet nonusers. Policy makers may develop initiatives to encourage ICT adoption among older adults or strengthen their digital skills. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01345110; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01345110

Background: An increasing number of older adults are using information and communication technologies (ICTs), and ICTs have become a major resource for older adults for improving health-related quality of life. ICTs possibly help older adults seek health information online, collaborate with other users in their decision making process, and receive social support. Although there have been some studies highlighting positive associations between ICT utilization and health, there is still limited knowledge about various patterns of ICT utilization among older adults. Objective: This study aims to extend the empirical evidence regarding the patterns of older adults’ ICT utilization, investigate different attributes across various ICT utilization patterns, and further examine how these patterns influence self-rated health. Methods: Data came from the 2012 and 2014 Health and Retirement Study, a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 51 and older. Our sample was restricted to individuals who responded to a special survey about technology use asked only to a subsample of 2012 interviews (N=1504). Latent class analysis was used to identify ICT utilization patterns based on ICT utilization variables: (1) communication-related utilization, including use of email, social networking sites, online video call, instant messenger, and smartphones; (2) finance-related utilization, such as online bill payment and online banking; (3) health-related utilization, including exercise equipment, exercise videos, online wellness programs, online health information, health monitoring devices, and Wii Fit; and (4) entertainment-related utilization, including e-readers/tablets, mp3 players, online streaming media, and video game. Ordinary least squares regressions were used to examine the effects of ICT utilization patterns on self-rated health at follow-up as compared to baseline. Results: Four ICT utilization patterns were identified: multifarious (n=90: high level of ICT utilization across most variables), e-commerce-oriented (n=147: high level of finance-related utilization), fundamental (n=280: email and online search focused utilization), and minimal users (n=552: low level of ICT utilization across most variables). We found that multifarious users were younger, more often female, married, and had higher education and income levels and better physical and mental health than other groups. Minimal users were more likely to be older, non-white, and single, and more likely to have lower level of education and income and poor physical and mental health. Regression models showed multifarious users were most likely to have better self-rated health, and minimal users tended to have the worst self-rated health over time, even after controlling for sociodemographic attributes and health conditions. E-commerce-oriented users were more likely to have better self-rated health than fundamental users. Conclusions: This study identified clearly different ICT utilization patterns among older adults and demonstrated positive effects of ICT utilization on health among older adults. Improving access to ICTs and ICT education programs will help to improve health outcomes of older adults, but the effects of different ICT utilization patterns need to be highlighted in future studies.

Protocol for a Systematic Review: Provision of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Improving Academic Achievement and School Engagement in Students Aged 4‐18

Purpose Older adults are at increased risk of experiencing loneliness and depression, particularly as they move into different types of care communities. Information and communication technology (ICT) usage may help older adults to maintain contact with social ties. However, prior research is not consistent in whether ICTs increase or decrease isolation and loneliness among older adults. The purpose of this study is to examine how ICT use impacts the social isolation and loneliness of older adults in assisted and independent living communities. Method Data from an ongoing study of ICT usage among older adults in assisted and independent living communities in Alabama is used. Simple regression analyses were performed to determine the relationship between frequency of Internet use and isolation and loneliness. As the data comes from an intervention study (ICT training vs. No training), the analyses controlled for the arm of the study participants were in. Results & Discussion Results from post intervention surveys show that going online more frequently was associated with lower levels of loneliness and isolation. Greater frequency of Internet use was associated with greater quantity and ease of contact with others. Using the Internet may be beneficial for decreasing loneliness and increasing social contact among older adults in assisted and independent living communities.

Purpose This paper aims to examine the long run impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on economic growth in the Sub Saharan African (SSA) region. The direct impact of ICTs use was examined for a 27-year period (1990-2014), before the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era (1990-1999) and during the MDGs era (2000-2014). Second and third objectives examined the nonlinear effect of ICT in the economic growth and their threshold values, respectively. The main growth enhancing transmission channels of ICT use were also looked at. Design/methodology/approach The study uses panel method technique of system generalist method of moment. The data period was collected from the years 1990-2014 from 45 SSA countries. The three main proxies of ICT are fixed telephone lines, mobile phone users and internet users per 100 inhabitants. Findings For the direct impact analysis, mobile phone and internet were found to have triggered economic growth. However, for nonlinear effect analysis, mass penetration of ICT proxies seems to slow economic growth. The threshold analysis showed a penetration rate threshold of 4.5 per cent for both mobile phone and internet, and 5 per cent for fixed telephone line before economic growth gets triggered. Finally, the results indicated that, except for financial development, human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment were the main growth enhancing transmission channels of ICTs use in the economy. Practical implications From a policy perspective, results suggest SSA region to open more doors for investment in technology to ensure sustainable development. Such policy has to focus on investment into main transmission channels of ICT, namely, human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment. The policymakers have to ensure that penetration of mobile phone, fixed telephone and internet is met by improvement in human capital, institutional quality and domestic investment. Moreover, to fully use the potential of ICT, improving the financial sector is highly recommended. Originality/value In SSA, studies that address the impact of ICT on economic growth was almost non-existent, especially on its nonlinear effect and main transmission channels. While few studies have examined the direct impact of ICT, this study extended the scope by including the main growth enhancing transmission channels and nonlinear effect of ICT on SSA economies using recent data.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, information and communication technology (ICT), as a part of digital technology, was of particular help to microenterprises in obtaining resources. Drawing upon Conservation of Resources Theory, we investigated the impact of ICT use on entrepreneurial performance. To examine our hypotheses, data were collected from 206 Chinese microenterprises. The results suggest that ICT use was positively related to entrepreneurial performance, that network capabilities mediated the relationship between ICT use and entrepreneurial performance and that perceived ICT usefulness moderated the relationship between ICT use and network capabilities. Finally, the implications, limitations and future research directions will be discussed.

This study explores the impact of residential environment (urban vs. kibbutz community) and use of information and communication technology (ICT) on loneliness among the elderly in Israel. The quantitative study surveys four sub-populations of people above the age of 65: (a) kibbutz residents who use ICT, (b) kibbutz residents who do not use ICT, (c) urban residents who use ICT, and (d) urban residents who do not. Findings confirm the hypotheses that urban residents will report greater loneliness than kibbutz residents, and ICT users will report lower feelings of loneliness than non-users. A significant effect of residential environment is found. A significant impact of ICT use is also found, but the effect size is small. Furthermore, there is interaction between the variables: Kibbutz residents using ICT report greater loneliness than those who do not, while among urban residents, ICT users report a lower level of loneliness.

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) use on the educational performance of new millennium learners (NMLs). Even though many factors might influence individual performance besides ICT use itself, the research focus was on the relationship between the behavioral patterns of ICT use and educational performance.Design/methodology/approachA nation‐wide survey with 1,071 tenth graders considered as NMLs was conducted in Korea. The behavioral patterns of the learners' ICT use were identified in three dimensions of place, purpose and context, and the educational performance was measured in cognitive, affective and socio‐cultural domains.FindingsBased on correlation and regression analyses, the better use of ICT for NMLs and the directions for the future study related to ICT use and educational performance were suggested.Research limitations/implicationsMajor contribution of this study is to divide ICT use into place, purpose and context of using ICT and to investigate their relationships with educational performance refined with cognitive, affective and socio‐cultural domains. Limitations of the study are coined with the samples and self‐report survey tools. Continuing effort to validate the tools and various samples is needed.Practical implicationsPolicy makers could use the results of the study to implement the ICT diffusion and adaption process.Originality/valueThere is no such questionnaires related to ICT use and educational performance in Korea, as well as in other nations. More cross‐cultural studies would be a great help in the field of education.

ABSTRACTWithin the next 15 years, roughly 20% of individuals in the United States will be aged 65 years and older. As such, a significant portion of the population enters old age, it is imperative to understand the tools and mechanisms that may aid in the maintenance and improvement of older adults’ well-being. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) are tools that may promote well-being through increased connectedness and reduction of isolation and depression. We suggest that ICT use may also enhance mattering, an individual's belief that they are important, acknowledged, and relied upon by others. This study examines the effect of ICT use on older adults’ sense of mattering. Data were collected as part of a multi-site randomized controlled trial study. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of ICT training and use on older adults’ quality of life and well-being. The sample included participants from 19 assisted and independent living communities. Results of our longitudinal and mediation analyses reveal that ICT use, through the promotion of social connectedness, has a significant and positive relationship with mattering. These results suggest that ICT use that facilitates connection and communication with social ties will be beneficial for enhancing well-being among older adults.

The relevance of the study is that in the new psycho-computer reality, humanity faces a number of dangers associated with the improper or uncontrolled use of information and communication technologies (ICT). This is especially true for young people, and first of all for those who are preparing to become the nation's elite by studying at universities. Under such conditions, knowledge about the functioning of the human brain and the impact of ICT on this process becomes extremely important, as they contribute to success in activities, while maintaining the mental and physical health of participants in the learning process. Therefore the proper use of ICT to prevent their negative effects on the mental and physical health of young people is becoming an extremely important issue in the organization of educational processes that take place in universities. The purpose of the article is to identify areas for solving problems of improving personal development in the new psycho-computer reality and to find ways to prevent and overcome the negative consequences of the use of ICT. Methodology - the use of methods of analysis and synthesis, abstraction, historical and logical, systemic and structural, which helped to synthesize the material and implement a holistic concept. Objectives of the study: 1) to identify the features of the impact of ICT on humans in the new computer information and communication reality; 2) to show the importance of the role of knowledge of the humanities in the process of teaching and educating young people in the use of ICT in order to expand their worldview and prevention; 3) to analyze the problems of distortion of worldview under the influence of manipulative suggestion of the superpowers of digital technologies; 4) to reveal the essence of clip thinking as a factor of alternative culture of information perception; 5) to find out the development of the brain as a factor in the formation of distal vision of information perception; 6) to analyze cyberpsychology as a science of synergetic combination at the intersection of human and computer activity; 7) to substantiate the directions of digital hygiene as a factor of mental and physical health of the individual. The result of the study. problematic issues of improving the development of personality in the new psycho-computer reality are identified, distortion of worldview under the influence of manipulative suggestion of the potential of digital technologies, clip thinking as a factor of alternative culture of information perception; the analysis of cyberpsychology as a science of synergetic combination at the intersection of human and computer activity and directions of observance of digital hygiene as a factor of mental and physical health of the person is presented. The correct use of ICT with the prevention of its negative effects on the mental and physical health of young people is an important problem in the organization of educational processes, the solution of which will contribute to the formation of the integrity of the individual

The use of information and communications technology (ICT) has increased across all regions and age groups. However, little research has examined older adults’ use of ICT for different purposes. To address this research gap, the current study investigates the effects of ICT use for four purposes – social, leisure, financial, and medical – on the well-being of older adults. Most importantly, this study explores whether social support from friends may account for the observed positive effects of ICT use for social and leisure purposes. A total of 525 Hong Kong Chinese adults aged 60 and above (M age = 68.7, SD = 6.27, Range = 60–100 years) completed an interview session to measure their ICT use for various purposes, social support from friends, and well-being indicators, including life satisfaction, positive and negative emotions and cognitive functioning. The results demonstrate that ICT use for all four purposes was associated with more frequent positive emotions and improved cognitive functioning. Moreover, ICT use for leisure and financial purposes was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and fewer negative emotions. Social support was found to partially account for the effects of ICT use for social and leisure purposes on life satisfaction and positive emotions. These findings suggest that ICT use for all purposes is beneficial to older adults, and that ICT use may improve the emotional well-being of older adults by allowing for greater support from friends.