Benefits and barriers: a qualitative study on online social participation among widowed older adults in Southwest China

Hong, Yan; Fu, Jingjing; Kong, Dehui; Liu, Siqi; Zhong, Zhu; Tan, Jason; Luo, Yongli

doi:10.1186/s12877-021-02381-w

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(42 reference statements)

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“…Psychologically, despite the elders living alone often feeling lonely, there is a lack of community attention to their mental health, which is often overshadowed by physical health (56). Our interview coincides with previous studies that online social interaction with peers plays an essential role in the interpersonal relationships of older adults living alone, increasing their social involvement and enhancing their sense of happiness (57,58).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Perspectives on the popularization of smart senior care to meet the demands of older adults living alone in communities of Southwest China: A qualitative study

Kong

Liu²,

Hong³

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundOlder adults who live alone face challenges in daily life and in maintaining their health status quo. Currently, however, their growing demands cannot be satisfied with high quality; therefore, these demands expressed by elders may be settled in the form of smart senior care. Hence, the improvement in smart senior care may produce more positive meanings in promoting the health and sense of happiness among this elderly population. This study aimed to explore the perceptions of demands and satisfaction with regard to the provision of senior care services to the community-dwelling older adults who live alone in Southwest China, thus providing a reference for the popularization of smart senior care.MethodsThis study adopted a qualitative descriptive approach on demands and the popularization of smart senior care. Semi-structured and in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 15 community-dwelling older adults who lived alone in Southwest China between March and May 2021. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the data.ResultsThrough data analysis, three major themes and subcategories were generated: “necessities” (contradiction: more meticulous daily life care and higher psychological needs vs. the current lower satisfaction status quo; conflict: higher demands for medical and emergency care against less access at present), “feasibility” (objectively feasible: the popularization of smart devices and applications; subjectively feasible: interests in obtaining health information), and “existing obstacles” (insufficient publicity; technophobia; patterned living habits; and concerns).ConclusionsSmart senior care may resolve the contradiction that prevails between the shortage of medical resources and the increasing demands for eldercare. Despite several obstacles that stand in the way of the popularization of smart senior care, the necessities and feasibility lay the preliminary foundation for its development and popularization. Decision-makers, communities, developers, and providers should cooperate to make smart senior care more popular and available to seniors living alone, facilitating independence while realizing aging in place by promoting healthy aging.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Perspectives on the popularization of smart senior care to meet the demands of older adults living alone in communities of Southwest China: A qualitative study

Kong

Liu²,

Hong³

et al. 2023

Front. Public Health

Self Cite

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“…Finally, age and widowed marital status are hindering factors for Internet and HIT use. On the one hand, some surveys showed that older adults usually have some degree of cybersecurity concerns and digital skills anxiety [33], further limiting their acceptance and use of new technologies such as the Internet in their sickly physical condition, and on the other hand, widowhood deepens older adults' sense of isolation [34], which may also be detrimental to enhancing their acceptance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with internet use and health information technology use among older people with multi-morbidity in the United States: findings from the National Health Interview Survey 2018

Cao

et al. 2022

BMC Geriatr

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Background The number of older adults with physical multi-morbidity is increasing. As Internet-based eHealth and mHealth increasingly require patients to use technology, it is important to examine the use of Internet/health information technology (HIT) among older adults with physical multi-morbidity. Here we examine the distribution of physical multi-morbidity, Internet use, and HIT use, and further explored the factors associated with Internet use and HIT use among older adults with physical multi-morbidity. Methods One wave of data from the 2018 US National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) was analysed. We included respondents aged 65 years and older. We used 13 physical non-communicable diseases to measure physical multi-morbidity. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models, with sociodemographic factors, health status, health insurance, health care service use, and satisfaction with health care as covariates, were used to examine the research questions. Results Of 72,746 respondents in NHIS, 7060 were eligible for our analysis. 5380 (76.2%) eligible respondents had physical multi-morbidity in this study. Overall, 60% of older adults reported using the Internet, with 38.9% using eHealth services (defined as looking up health information online, filling a prescription, scheduling an appointment with a health care provider, or communicating with a health care provider via email). Gender, age, marital status, region, race, education, and family income were significant factors associated with the Internet and HIT use among people with multi-morbidity. The study also showed that after adjusting for confounders, good health status, having Medicare, receiving home care from a health professional, and low satisfaction with health care were positive predictors of the Internet and HIT use. Conclusions In summary, our study found that Internet and HIT use among older patients with chronic diseases is far from the Healthy People 2030 target. Internet and HIT use vary depending on a number of sociodemographic factors. Relevant influencing factors should be fully considered in health education interventions promoted.

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“…At present, the older generation in China can communicate with the outside world through mobile phones and the Internet, which may reduce the intimate association between leisure, entertainment, and social health. Therefore, the LEL of older people living alone may increase the possibility of social interaction, but there are still challenges in prompting them to actively improve their social health premised on social trust or social reciprocity in a short period ( 85 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can leisure and entertainment lifestyle promote health among older people living alone in China?—A simultaneous equation approach

Qin

Liu²,

Wang³

et al. 2022

Front. Public Health

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ObjectivesWith the surging number of older people living alone, their lifestyles and health status have aroused increasing concern. This study aims to investigate whether a leisure and entertainment lifestyle (LEL) can improve the multidimensional health among older people living alone and try to identify the latent mechanisms among them.MethodFor this purpose, we extracted data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) and established a simultaneous equations model, comprising ordinary least square regression (OLS), two-stage least squares (2SLS), and the mediating effect model.ResultsOlder people living alone in China reported relatively better mental health status (3.64 ± 1.07), followed by physical health (3.41 ± 1.26) and social health (2.75 ± 1.18). In the OLS model, LEL significantly improved the social health of older people living alone (β = 0.054, P < 0.01), followed by physical health (β = 0.042, P < 0.01) and mental health (β = 0.027, P < 0.01). After endogenous tests from 2SLS model and robustness tests, we found that more active LEL was associated with higher levels of physical health and mental health. However, LEL had no significant effect on the improvement of the social health of the older people living alone. Using the mediation analysis, exercise efficacy partially mediated the relationship of LEL with physical health and mental health, and the ratios were 19.75 and 24.85%, respectively. Similarly, positive life attitudes partially mediated the relationship between LEL and physical health, and LEL and mental health, with ratios of 10.65 and 26.83%, respectively.ConclusionOur findings suggested that LEL is significantly associated with better physical and mental health for older people living alone in China, and the association is mediated by exercise efficacy and positive attitudes toward life. Promoting more leisure and recreational activities, upgrading exercise efficacy, and encouraging positive life attitudes are necessary health promotion measures in active aging policies for the wellbeing of older people living alone.

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Benefits and barriers: a qualitative study on online social participation among widowed older adults in Southwest China

Cited by 9 publications

References 56 publications

Perspectives on the popularization of smart senior care to meet the demands of older adults living alone in communities of Southwest China: A qualitative study

Perspectives on the popularization of smart senior care to meet the demands of older adults living alone in communities of Southwest China: A qualitative study

Factors associated with internet use and health information technology use among older people with multi-morbidity in the United States: findings from the National Health Interview Survey 2018

Can leisure and entertainment lifestyle promote health among older people living alone in China?—A simultaneous equation approach

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