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Internet Use and Psychological Well-Being at Advanced Age: Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging

Author

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  • David Quintana

    (Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, Spain
    Current address: Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. de la Universidad 30, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, Spain.)

  • Alejandro Cervantes

    (Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, Spain)

  • Yago Sáez

    (Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, Spain)

  • Pedro Isasi

    (Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This work explores the connection between psychological well-being and Internet use in older adults. The study is based on a sample of 2314 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The subjects, aged 50 years and older, were interviewed every two years over the 2006–2007 to 2014–2015 period. The connection between the use of Internet/Email and the main dimensions of psychological well-being (evaluative, hedonic and eudaimonic) was analyzed by means of three generalized estimating equation models that were fitted on 2-year lagged repeated measurements. The outcome variables, the scores on three well-being scales, were explained in terms of Internet/Email use, controlling for covariates that included health and socioeconomic indicators. The results support the existence of a direct relationship between Internet/Email use and psychological well-being. The connection between the main predictor and the score of the participants on the scale used to measure the eudaimonic aspect was positive and statistically significant at conventional levels ( p -value: 0.015). However, the relevance of digital literacy on the evaluative and the hedonic components could not be confirmed ( p -values for evaluative and hedonic dimensions were 0.078 and 0.192, respectively).

Suggested Citation

  • David Quintana & Alejandro Cervantes & Yago Sáez & Pedro Isasi, 2018. "Internet Use and Psychological Well-Being at Advanced Age: Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:480-:d:135587
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emily A. Greenfield & Nadine F. Marks, 2004. "Formal Volunteering as a Protective Factor for Older Adults' Psychological Well-Being," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(5), pages 258-264.
    2. Peng Nie & Alfonso Sousa-Poza & Galit Nimrod, 2017. "Internet Use and Subjective Well-Being in China," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 132(1), pages 489-516, May.
    3. Stephen Jivraj & James Nazroo & Bram Vanhoutte & Tarani Chandola, 2014. "Aging and Subjective Well-Being in Later Life," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 69(6), pages 930-941.
    4. Dolan, Paul & Peasgood, Tessa & White, Mathew, 2008. "Do we really know what makes us happy A review of the economic literature on the factors associated with subjective well-being," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 94-122, February.
    5. Borgonovi, Francesca, 2008. "Doing well by doing good. The relationship between formal volunteering and self-reported health and happiness," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(11), pages 2321-2334, June.
    6. Paul Dolan & Richard Layard & Robert Metcalfe, 2011. "Measuring Subjective Wellbeing for Public Policy: Recommendations on Measures," CEP Reports 23, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thi Xuan Hoa Nguyen & Thi Bich Ngoc Tran & Thanh Binh Dao & Galina Barysheva & Chien Thang Nguyen & An Ha Nguyen & Tran Si Lam, 2022. "Elderly People’s Adaptation to the Evolving Digital Society: A Case Study in Vietnam," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Houxi Zhou & Xuebiao Zhang & Candi Ge & Jingyi Wang & Xiaolong Sun, 2023. "Does Internet Use Boost the Sustainable Subjective Well-Being of Rural Residents? Evidence from Rural China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, January.

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    Keywords

    aging; Internet; well-being; ELSA;
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