Searching for Connection: Succesfull Ageing in a Digitalising Society
Over the years, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have introduced an increasing number of opportunities into various aspects of our daily lives. ICTs, for instance, provide novel alternatives for initiating and maintaining relationships, or for facilitating everyday activities that were traditionally conducted offline, such as banking, shopping, or managing civic affairs. However, research has consistently shown that for older adults the use of ICTs is not self-evident. Compared to their younger counterparts, older individuals tend to engage with ICTs less intensively. To enhance older adults’ involvement in using ICTs to maintain their wellbeing, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of their use of ICTs. In the current research I therefore elaborate on the characteristics of older adults’ ICT use as well as on its potential benefits to their wellbeing. This dissertation is built on four empirical studies, all shedding light on the characteristics and of older adults’ ICT use as well as its (aimed) impact on their wellbeing. Each of these studies focus on different subsets among the older adult population, examining different purposes for ICT use, within various settings, and employing different research methods. Collectively these studies furnish valuable insights into the questions I have formulated, offering a multifaceted perspective on the subject matter. This data package contains four sub datasets: 1) The use of ICTs among older adults with cognitive impairments. This dataset contains the transcripts and audio recordings of qualitative interviews with older adults with cognitive impairments, their relatives, and their professional caregivers about their daily ICT use. 2) 'On Facebook I met old friends again'. This dataset contains the transcripts and audio recordings of qualitative interviews with independently living older adults about their use of ICTs in the context of recalling memories. 3) Older adults’ engagement in residential care, and the role of ICTs. This dataset contains the transcripts, audio recordings and infographics of focus group sessions with older residents and professional caregivers about the residents' engagement in the care process and the pitfalls and opportunities of ICTs. 4) Online self-disclosure among older adults. This dataset contains quantitative variables (derived from LASA) on older adults demographic information, ICT use, and health characteristics. Additionally, the syntax for the analyses was part of this dataset.