What’s the big deal about social connections?
Cultivate social connections is one of the nine lifestyle choices that nurture body, mind, and spirit. In fact, some experts believe that cultivating social connections provides more health and well-being benefits than any other lifestyle choice. These benefits include better cardiovascular and mental health and increased longevity, among many others. The lack of social connections resulting from social isolation (objectively measured lack of social connections) or loneliness (perceived lack of social connections) can lead to faster biological aging, dementia, and premature death.
Web-connected technology predicts less loneliness of octogenarians
Devices, such as cell phones and computers, which enable virtual communication have become part of the global environment. The internet broadened the reach of these devices. German researchers proposed that a better person-environment fit would lead to better well-being in old age. More specifically, the researchers argued that the oldest-old who had access to and used internet-enabled information and communication technologies (ICTs) would have 1) lower levels of loneliness, 2) lower levels of anomie (alienation), and 3) higher levels of autonomy (self-governing). Participants with an average of 85 years included 1,539 community-dwelling persons and 156 persons living in institutionalized settings. The subjects formed a random sample of residents of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Loneliness, anomie, and autonomy were evaluated with validated methods.
Results showed that participants who used a web-connected ICT (26 percent of the sample) had significantly lower loneliness and anomie and higher autonomy than participants who were not web-connected or did not use any ICTs (38 percent of the sample). These results persisted after adjusting for gender, age, education, housing situation, and former labor force participation. The results also suggest that many of the oldest old may avoid web-connected ICTs due feeling overburdened by technology that requires significant time to learn to use.
Internet use can counter loneliness
Until recently, most of the studies that investigated the link between internet use and loneliness used cross-sectional data. A link exists but it doesn’t tell us is internet use causes loneliness to decline. Researchers at UCLA used longitudinal data from 5,240 participants with an average of 74 years at baseline in the nationally representative Health and Retirement Study to determine if internet use predicted less loneliness over 8 years of follow-up. Would internet use also predict increased social contacts and thereby reduce loneliness? Loneliness was evaluated with the validated UCLA loneliness scale, while internet use was categorized as either yes or no. At the end of follow-up, internet use predicted a significant direct effect of less loneliness. In addition, internet use predicted increased social contact, which in turn predicted less loneliness. As older people retire and diminish their work-related social contacts, using the internet could develop and nurture additional social contacts.
Will one approach to increasing social connections work everywhere?
A one-size fits all approach to using technology to promote greater social connectivity probably won’t be as effective as one that reflects local concerns. Researchers in Australia used small focus groups to explore how technology can help older persons fit into “their existing social tapestry and community infrastructure.” Study participants valued technology but expressed concerns about online friendships and the sometimes steep technology learning curve. Older persons live in unique social and geographic contexts that likely require customized, community-led technology programs that include, among other things, on-going technology support.
Technology use predicts less social isolation
Social isolation affects about a quarter of Americans, often with adverse outcomes. Would access to and use of technology help seniors avoid social isolation? Researchers at Johns Hopkins University studied this question with data from 6,704 participants aged 65 and older in the National Health and Aging Trends Study. At baseline, 23 percent of participants were either socially isolated or severely socially isolated. Most seniors who weren’t socially isolated reported having access to a working cell phone (88 percent), or a working computer (70 percent), and used email or text messaging (56 percent).
After four years of follow-up and after adjusting for baseline age, gender, race, and education, seniors who used a cell phone or computer or email or text messaging in the previous year had 37 percent lower risk of developing social isolation compared to participants who reported no access to or use of these technologies. The nascent shift to telehealth and telemedicine may motivate reluctant seniors to become proficient in using technology and possibly experience less social isolation.
What to do
Many older adults find themselves feeling isolated from family and friends. This unhappy situation may be especially prevalent for seniors who have difficulty getting around physically. Technology and the internet in particular can increase social connections and reduce social isolation and loneliness. If you don’t feel technologically competent, take heart – you’re not alone. My wife and I rely on our grown kids to help us with technology challenges. If you have technological savvy family members, why not ask them to help you?
