High-speed broadband availability, Internet activity among older people, quality of life and loneliness

Abstract

Using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), linked to administrative data on high-speed broadband availability from infrastructure maps, this study examines patterns of Internet uses and psychosocial outcomes for over 3500 people aged 50 plus across Ireland. High-speed broadband availability is associated with higher reported levels of home Internet access, greater frequency of Internet use and more engagement with Internet activities. Controlling for demographic and socio-economic circumstances, regression models show that quality of life is higher among daily users of the Internet. Little association is found with loneliness. Quality of life is higher among users of Internet-based communication applications such as email and video calls, and there is some evidence that loneliness may be less pronounced among users of these applications. The findings are consistent with the view that digital engagement can enhance the lives of older people and thus may be supportive of policies and interventions to address potential ‘grey’ digital divides.

Exploring age-related patterns in internet access: Insights from a secondary analysis of New Zealand survey data

“…Access to high-speed broadband has become more important with the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for older adults, as people relied on the online medium to work from home, access health care services, connect with family and friends, apply for public assistance, and perform basic activities such as buying groceries (McClain et al, 2021). Access to high-speed broadband among older adults is important as it is associated with greater digital skills (Hargittai & Dobransky, 2017) and, in the context of the pandemic, perceived quality of life (Mohan & Lyons, 2022;Wallinheimo & Evans, 2021). While research and commentary has pointed out the limited access to broadband connection among older adults (Pew Research Center, 2021), the current study also uncovers age disparities in the quality of connection among those who are already broadband users.…”