Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

Internet use among older Europeans: an analysis based on SHARE data

König, Ronny; Seifert, Alexander; Doh, Michael (2018). Internet use among older Europeans: an analysis based on SHARE data. Universal Access in the Information Society, 17(3):621-633.

Abstract

Access to the Internet is becoming increasingly important for all generations. However, a digital gap in Internet use remains between younger and older individuals as well as within the elderly population itself. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate Internet use among elderly Europeans. Representative data across 17 countries from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were examined. Analyses were based on the responses of 61,202 Europeans aged ≥ 50. Results highlight that, on average, 49% of all respondents use the Internet. However, the situation varies widely among European countries. Alongside individual indicators, such as age, gender, and social class, results indicate that previous experience with computers during one’s time in the workplace is positively associated with Internet use in old age. Furthermore, use of the Internet among an individual’s social network positively influences their use. Wider contextual structures such as area of residence and country-specific wealth and communication technology infrastructure also tend to promote Internet use among elderly Europeans. Data from SHARE indicate that private Internet use among older Europeans is driven by personal resources, prior experiences with technology, social salience as well as contextual influences.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:06 Faculty of Arts > Institute of Sociology
06 Faculty of Arts > Center for Gerontology
08 Research Priority Programs > Dynamics of Healthy Aging
Dewey Decimal Classification:300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology
Scopus Subject Areas:Physical Sciences > Software
Physical Sciences > Information Systems
Physical Sciences > Human-Computer Interaction
Physical Sciences > Computer Networks and Communications
Language:English
Date:1 August 2018
Deposited On:15 Oct 2018 10:46
Last Modified:19 Jan 2025 02:40
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:1615-5289
OA Status:Closed
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10209-018-0609-5
Other Identification Number:ISSN: 1615-5289 (Print) 1615-5297 (Online)
Full text not available from this repository.

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
194 citations in Web of Science®
216 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications