Digital divide in elderly: Self-rated computer skills are associated with higher education, better cognitive abilities and increased mental health

IF 2.5 4区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

European Journal of Psychiatry Pub Date : 2022-07-01 DOI:10.1016/j.ejpsy.2022.03.003

Christoph Augner

{"title":"Digital divide in elderly: Self-rated computer skills are associated with higher education, better cognitive abilities and increased mental health","authors":"Christoph Augner","doi":"10.1016/j.ejpsy.2022.03.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objectives</h3><p>Recent evidence indicates a positive relationship of computer and internet use with mental health and life quality of elderly. However, the role of computer skills is unclear. This study evaluates self-rated computer skills of elderly and their relationship with mental health, cognitive abilities and related variables.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We used data recently collected by Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and included individuals across Europe aged 65 and above. The sample consisted of N=26,525, 55.6% were female. Mean age of the sample was 74.57 (SD=7.12).</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>We observed significant relationships between self-rated computer skills level and mental health, cognitive abilities and physical health. Having a partner, education level and self-rated writing skills turned out to be the best predictors for self-rated computer skills level in elderly.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>The findings underscore the importance of computer skills in the elderly. Programs designed to enhance the ability to engage in computer and internet activities may be useful to counteract the digital divide.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":12045,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Psychiatry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2022-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"5","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"European Journal of Psychiatry","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0213616322000295","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 5

Abstract

Background and objectives

Recent evidence indicates a positive relationship of computer and internet use with mental health and life quality of elderly. However, the role of computer skills is unclear. This study evaluates self-rated computer skills of elderly and their relationship with mental health, cognitive abilities and related variables.

Methods

We used data recently collected by Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) and included individuals across Europe aged 65 and above. The sample consisted of N=26,525, 55.6% were female. Mean age of the sample was 74.57 (SD=7.12).

Results

We observed significant relationships between self-rated computer skills level and mental health, cognitive abilities and physical health. Having a partner, education level and self-rated writing skills turned out to be the best predictors for self-rated computer skills level in elderly.

Conclusions

The findings underscore the importance of computer skills in the elderly. Programs designed to enhance the ability to engage in computer and internet activities may be useful to counteract the digital divide.

查看原文本刊更多论文

老年人的数字鸿沟:自我评估的计算机技能与高等教育、更好的认知能力和更健康的心理有关

背景与目的研究表明，老年人使用电脑和网络与心理健康和生活质量呈正相关。然而，计算机技能的作用尚不清楚。本研究评估了老年人的自评计算机技能及其与心理健康、认知能力和相关变量的关系。方法我们使用了欧洲健康、老龄化和退休调查（SHARE）最近收集的数据，包括欧洲65岁及以上的个人。样本中N=26525，55.6%为女性。结果自评计算机技能水平与心理健康、认知能力和身体健康之间存在显著关系。事实证明，有伴侣、教育水平和自我评价的写作技能是老年人自我评价计算机技能水平的最佳预测因素。结论研究结果强调了老年人计算机技能的重要性。旨在提高参与计算机和互联网活动能力的项目可能有助于消除数字鸿沟。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

European Journal of Psychiatry PSYCHIATRY-

CiteScore

2.90

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

43 days

期刊介绍： The European journal of psychiatry is a quarterly publication founded in 1986 and directed by Professor Seva until his death in 2004. It was originally intended to report “the scientific activity of European psychiatrists” and “to bring about a greater degree of communication” among them. However, “since scientific knowledge has no geographical or cultural boundaries, is open to contributions from all over the world”. These principles are maintained in the new stage of the journal, now expanded with the help of an American editor.