Not So Lonely Surfers: Loneliness, Social Support, Internet Use and Life Satisfaction in Older Adults

Abstract

Older adults often encounter diminished social support, loneliness and lower life satisfaction levels. Many of these struggles stem from a loss of social interaction with social network ties that are important to them. Information and communication technology (ICT) use offers promise in helping them maintain their social ties. In this longitudinal study, participants included 306 older adults in 19 different assisted and independent living communities. Through random assignment at the community level, residents were offered ICT training, interaction with trainees (placebo), and a survey only control condition with no interaction. Residents in each group were surveyed at pretest, posttest, and 3, 6, and 12 months post training. This analysis examines the use of the Internet as a tool for stress buffering to maintain and enrich social ties, reducing the impact of loneliness and improving life satisfaction measures. Significant interactions were found between ICT attitudes and loneliness, social support and life satisfaction.