The Enabling Role of ICT to Mitigate the Negative Effects of Emotional and Social Loneliness of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on the elderly owing to their particular vulnerability to the virus. Their confinement to prevent the spread of the virus resulted in social isolation, often linked to the unwanted loneliness that hinders their emotional well-being. The enabling capacity of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) to overcome the negative effects of this isolation requires special attention. The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of the use of ICT on the emotional well-being of elderly people during their confinement. (2) Methods: A qualitative exploration method based on four focus groups with elderly people aged 60 years or older and three in-depth personal interviews with experts in education of the elderly were carried out. (3) Results: Research results evidence a negative emotional impact of the confinement (lack of physical contact with their loved ones, fear and uncertainty, feeling of loneliness, sadness at the loss of family members) on the emotional well-being of study participants. Furthermore, the operational capacity of ICT to prevent infection, as well as their positive emotional and humanizing role in providing access to entertainment and hobbies, and in improving self-esteem was also acknowledged. (4) Conclusions: ICT have become a valuable ally for elderly people aged 60 years and older to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness imposed by the confinement.

Factors Associated with Loneliness in Rural Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Focusing on Connection with Others

“…Thus, to reduce loneliness in the future, it is important to keep in touch with friends through both face-to-face and non-face-to-face interactions, and to continue the relationships with friends while paying attention to infection prevention. It has been reported that information and communication technology (ICT) interventions are effective in reducing loneliness in older people [ 42 , 43 ]. By developing an effective ICT program that older adults can easily use, loneliness emerging from an infectious disease epidemic in the future can be reduced.…”

Predictors of Positive and Negative Emotions Experienced by Poles during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Nevertheless, in our research, the only age-related predictor of emotions was being over 60 years old, which was a predictor of negative emotions. The pandemic negatively influenced the way in which older people function because they lost the opportunity to move around, they became lonelier, and they experienced more conflicts within their families [39]. Another source of negative emotions in this age group might be older people's increased susceptibility to contracting the virus and being more seriously affected than younger people [40].…”

Why Nursing Home Residents Use Social Network Systems: An Attachment Perspective

“…Future research can use the results of this study to explore more relevant variables to explain the residents' intention of using SNS better. Community-based older residents can also be investigated, since Llorente-Barroso, Kolotouchkina, and Mañas-Viniegra found that ICT has become a valuable ally for elderly people aged 60 years and older to mitigate the negative effects of social isolation and loneliness imposed by confinement under the COVID-19 pandemic [25]. New social network scales [26] or new social platforms/devices [27] can also be explored to add value to the research area.…”