1. Technology use characteristics among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-cultural survey.
- Author
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Elimelech, Ortal Cohen, Ferrante, Simona, Josman, Naomi, Meyer, Sonya, Lunardini, Francesca, Gómez-Raja, Jonathan, Galán, Carmen, Cáceres, Pilar, Sciama, Piera, Gros, Marianne, Vurro, Clodia, and Rosenblum, Sara
- Subjects
OLDER people ,COVID-19 pandemic ,PERSONAL computers ,STAY-at-home orders ,COVID-19 - Abstract
Personal computers, tablets, and smartphones may support older adults' engagement when people are required to stay home and opportunities to engage in meaningful activities are reduced during the COVID-19 period. This study aims to screen older adults' technology-use characteristics across social, leisure, and education domains during the COVID-19 pandemic from a crosscultural viewpoint. The sample included 576 participants aged 60 and older from France (n = 62), Spain (n = 110), and Israel (n = 404). Participants completed the technology-use survey, which consists of questions about their facilities, technology usability, need for adaptations to support technology use, and changes in technology use since COVID-19. Significant differences were found between countries in facilities, χ
2 (2) = 25.16, p <.001, and usability, χ2 (2) = 64.14, p <.001, across the three domains. Furthermore, 34% of technological usability was predicted by country and facilities, F (4, 568) = 72.39, p <.001. Participants noted a willingness to use technology if it was adapted for social (61%–73%), leisure (51%–71%), or educational (67%–76%) activities and that they devoted substantially more time to technology across domains (>58%) due to COVID-19. These findings highlight culture and facilities as factors that play an imperative role in supporting and enhancing the usability of technology among older adults. • Due to COVID-19, older adults devoted additional time to using technology. • Participants would enhance their technology use if it could adapt to their needs. • Significant differences in facilities were found among countries. • Personally customized technology is needed to enhance older adults' technology use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2022
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