Use of digital communication in the post-covid-19 era: a study on the elderly in Portugal and Spain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31637/epsir-2025-658Keywords:
digital communication, elderly, digital inclusion, Portugal, Spain, educational qualification, gender, information and communication technologiesAbstract
Introduction: This study aims to analyze the relationship between the elderly and digital technology and communication in Portugal and Spain. It also seeks to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the frequency and mode of communication between the elderly and their children. Methodology: The data used in this research comes from the European Social Survey (ESS) (Round 10: 2020-2022), including a representative sample of the elderly population in Portugal (574 respondents) and Spain (474 respondents). Results: In both countries, men tend to show greater familiarity with digital resources compared to women. There is also a positive correlation between the level of education and familiarity with technology. Discussion: The identified trends can be explained by cultural and structural factors that influence access to and education in technology among genders. Education emerges as a crucial factor in digital inclusion, highlighting its importance in promoting digital skills. Conclusions: The study reinforces the need for strategies to mitigate fears and concerns through digital education and awareness campaigns that emphasize the safety and benefits of information and communication technologies.
Downloads
References
Beaunoyer, E., Dupéré, S., & Guitton, M. J. (2020). COVID-19 and digital inequalities: Reciprocal impacts and mitigation strategies. Computers in Human Behavior, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106424 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106424
Blank, G. & Groselj, D. (2014). Dimensions of internet use: Amount, variety, and types. Information, Communication & Society, 17, 417-435. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2014.889189 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2014.889189
Castilla, D., Garcia-Palacios, A., Miralles, I., Breton-Lopez, J., Parra, E., Rodriguez-Berges, S., & Botella, C. (2016). Effect of Web navigation style in elderly users. Computers in Human Behavior, 55, 909-920. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.10.034 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2015.10.034
Coelho, A. (2024). Modes of relating to the new ICTs among older internet users: A qualitative approach. Ageing & Society, 44(4), 963-987. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X22000605 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X22000605
Colombo, F., Llorente-Barroso, C., & Abad-Alcalá, L. (2023). Communication for Seniors’ Inclusion in Today’s Society: The Effects of Digitisation on Active Ageing. Media and Communication, 11(3), 1-5. https://dx.doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.7039 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.7039
Díez, M., Ureta, M., Pavez, I., Benavides, C., Inostroza-Quezada, I., & Epstein, L. (2023). Access, use and attitudes regarding information and communication technologies among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Revista Espanola de Comunicacion en Salud, 14(2), 7-20. https://doi.org/10.20318/recs.2023.7375 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20318/recs.2023.7375
European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure (ESS ERIC). (2023). ESS round 10 - 2020. Democracy, Digital social contacts. Sikt - Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research. https://doi.org/10.21338/NSD-ESS10-2020
Friemel, T. (2016). The digital divide has grown old: Determinants of a digital divide among seniors. New Media & Society, 18(2), 313-331. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814538648 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444814538648
Frishammar, J., Essén, A., Bergström, F., & Ekman, T. (2023). Digital health platforms for the elderly? Key adoption and usage barriers and ways to address them. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 189, 122319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122319 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122319
Hargittai, E., & Hsieh, Y. (2012). Succinct survey measures of web-use skills. Social Science Computer Review, 30(1), 95-107. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439310397146 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0894439310397146
Helsper, E., & Reisdorf, B. (2017). The emergence of a ‘digital underclass’ in Great Britain and Sweden: Changing reasons for digital exclusion. New Media & Society, 19, 1253-1270. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816634676 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444816634676
Holzinger, A., Searle, G., & Wernbacher, M. (2011). The effect of previous exposure to technology on acceptance and its importance in usability and accessibility engineering. Universal Access in the Information Society, 10, 245-260. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-010-0212-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-010-0212-x
König, R., Seifert, A., & Doh, M. (2018). Internet use among older Europeans: an analysis based on SHARE data. Universal Access in the Information Society, 17(3), 621-633. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-018-0609-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-018-0609-5
Llorente-Barroso, C., Sánchez-Valle, M., & Viñarás-Abad, M. (2023). The role of the internet in later life autonomy: Silver surfers in Spain. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01536-x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01536-x
Marimuthu, R., Gupta, S., Stapleton, L., Duncan, D., & Pasik-Duncan, B. (2022). Challenging the digital divide: factors affecting the availability, adoption, and acceptance of future technology in elderly user communities. Computer, 55(7), 56-66. https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2022.3172026 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/MC.2022.3172026
Marshall, B., Dalmer, N., Katz, S., Loos, E., López Gómez, D., & Peine, A. (2022). Digitization of aging-in-place: an international comparison of the value-framing of new technologies. Societies, 12(2), 35. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12020035 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/soc12020035
Msweli, N. & Mawela, T. (2020). Enablers and barriers for mobile commerce and banking services among the elderly in developing countries: a systematic review. En M. Hattingh, M. Matthee, H. Smuts, I. Pappas, Y. Dwivedi & M. Mäntymäki (Eds.), Responsible Design, Implementation and Use of Information and Communication Technology (pp. 319-330). Springer International Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-45002-1_27
Nieto-Vieites, A., Gaspar, P., Victor, J., Pérez-Blanco, L., Felpete-López, A., & Facal, D. (2022). Technological Development in Preventing Cognitive Frailty, Promoting Active Aging, and the Economics of Aging. En J. Reis, M. Peter, R. Cayolla, & Z. Bogdanović (Eds.), Marketing and Smart Technologies. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies (pp. 213-223). Springer International Publishing. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9272-7_18
Olsson, T. & Viscovi, D. (2023). Digitalised welfare: Access, usage, and outcomes among older adults. Media and Communication, 11(3), 18-28. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.6694 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.6694
Organização Mundial da Saúde. (2015). Relatório mundial de envelhecimento e saúde. Organização Mundial da Saúde.
Papí-Gálvez, N., & Parra-Casado, L. (2023). Age-Based Digital Divide: Uses of the Internet in People Over 54 Years Old. Media and Communication, 11(3), 77-87. https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.6744 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17645/mac.v11i3.6744
Petrovčič, A., Reisdorf, B. C., Grošelj, D., & Prevodnik, K. (2023). A typology of aging internet users: exploring digital gradations in internet skills and uses. Social Science Computer Review, 41(5), 1921-1940. https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393221117753 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08944393221117753
Seifert, A., & Schelling, H. (2018). Seniors online: Attitudes toward the internet and coping with everyday life. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 37(1), 99-109. https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816669805 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0733464816669805
Taipale, S., Oinas, T., & Karhinen, J. (2021). Heterogeneity of traditional and digital media use among older adults: A six-country comparison. Technology in Society, 66, 101642. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101642 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101642
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 António Calha
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under Creative Commons Non Commercial, No Derivatives Attribution 4.0. International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.), that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).