Role of Social Media in Coping with COVID-19 Stress: Searching for Intergenerational Perspectives

Khalili-Mahani, Najmeh; Elbaz, Sasha; Pahayahay, Amber; Timm‐Bottos, Janis

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-77685-5_28

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…While the internet made it easier to partake in some leisure activities, such as finding and listening to music, it was also described in the negative context as something that absorbed or wasted time ( Nimrod and Ivan, 2019 ). The importance of considering the affordances of the device to enhance wellbeing through fostering intergenerational relationships are supported by a 2019 field study by Marston et al (2019) , a social media study by Khalili-Mahani et al (2021) , and a recent scoping review by Ibarra et al (2020) .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review

et al. 2023

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Older adults are at a higher risk of loneliness, compared to other demographics. The use of Internet Communication and Technologies (ICTs) among older adults is steadily increasing and given ICTs provide a means of enhancing social connectedness suggests they may have positive effects on reducing loneliness. Therefore, the aim of this scoping review was to examine the research that explores how ICTs may be implicated in mitigating loneliness and increasing social connectedness among older adults. After the examination of 54 articles, we identified three major themes within the literature: (1) ICTs were associated with a reduction in loneliness and increase in wellbeing. (2) ICTs promoted social connectedness by facilitating conversations. (3) Factors such as training, self-efficacy, self-esteem, autonomy, and the design/features, or affordances, of ICTs contribute toward the associations between ICT use and wellbeing. The heterogeneity of methodologies, statistical reporting, the small sample sizes of interventional and observational studies, and the diversity of the experimental contexts underline the challenges of quantitative research in this field and highlights the necessity of tailoring ICT interventions to the needs and contexts of the older users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review

et al. 2023

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“…This can prevent them from participating in intergenerational experiences, leading to a lack of health benefits [ 19 , 20 ]. Additionally, COVID-19 restrictions have further limited in-person participation in these experiences due to the fear of infection [ 21 ]. Several studies have been conducted on the availability and use of technology among older adults [ 22 , 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The analyzed documents indicate that “social isolation” is one of the main problems affecting the health of older adults, both positively and negatively [ 20 , [33] , [34] , [35] ]. Other studies have explored the benefits of older adults engaging in intergenerational interactions through virtual tools [ 2 ], promoting health maintenance and well-being [ 36 ], coping with stress caused by COVID-19 [ 21 ], using social media for intergenerational communication with young people [ 37 ], promoting active and digital aging [ 38 ], exploring intergenerational relationships for older adults [ 19 ], and examining the psychological impact of COVID-19 on intergenerational communication [ 39 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing active aging through IRAGE: Mitigating social isolation with intergenerational gaming

Díaz,

Gil,

Cabeza

et al. 2024

Heliyon

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A Social-Media Study of the Older Adults Coping with the COVID-19 Stress by Information and Communication Technologies

Khalili-Mahani

Sawchuk

Elbaz

et al. 2022

Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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In this paper, we convey the results of our digital fieldwork within the current mediascape (English) by examining online reactions to an important source of cultural influence: the news media's depiction of older adult's stress, the proposals offered to older adults to assist them in coping with the stress of living in the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally, the responses of online commentators to these proposals. A quasi-automated social network analysis of 3390 valid comments in seven major international news outlets (Jan-June 2020), revealed how older adults were generally resourceful and able to cope with COVID-19 stress. For many in this technology-using sample, information and communication technologies (ICTs) were important for staying informed, busy, and connected, but they were not the primary resources for coping. Although teleconferencing tools were praised for facilitating new forms of intergenerational connection during the lockdowns, they were considered temporary and inadequate substitutes for connection to family. Importantly, older adults objected to uncritical and patronizing assumptions about their ability to deal with stress, and to the promotion of ICTs as the most important coping strategy. Our findings underline the necessity of a critical and media-ecological approach to studying the affordances of new ICTs for older adults, which considers changing needs and contextual preferences of aging populations in adoption of de-stressing technologies.

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Role of Social Media in Coping with COVID-19 Stress: Searching for Intergenerational Perspectives

Cited by 7 publications

References 24 publications

The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review

The association between information and communication technologies, loneliness and social connectedness: A scoping review

Enhancing active aging through IRAGE: Mitigating social isolation with intergenerational gaming

A Social-Media Study of the Older Adults Coping with the COVID-19 Stress by Information and Communication Technologies

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