AbstractsSociology

Factors that influence use of social media among older adults

by Steven Grande




Institution: California State University, Long Beach
Department:
Year: 2015
Keywords: Gerontology
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2134120
Full text PDF: http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1586505


Abstract

The use of social media by older adults is on the rise. Social media allows older adults to keep meaningful connections with friends, family, and life. Social media allows older adults to stay connected through prevailing frailty, geographical displacement, and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of use or non-use of social media on social-connectivity/loneliness and depression, and the effect of demographic variables including sex, age, income, and educational level on the use of social media. There were a total of 67 participants in the study. The data revealed that income was a significant factor in the use of social media. Moreover, lower income participants used social media significantly less than the upper and middle income level participants. This study was created to specifically look at participant's use/non-use of social media and therein introduced specific factors that could have possibly varied when compared.