@article {13460, title = {Pathways Linking Information and Communication Technology Use and Loneliness among Older Adults: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, year = {2023}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between information and communication technology (ICT) use and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults (aged 65+), as well as the mediating effects of social relations, perceived control, and purpose-in-life.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study used data from the 2014 and 2018 Health and Retirement Study (N=3,026), employing autoregressive path models with contemporaneous mediation to assess the association of two kinds of ICT use, social media communication and general computer use, with loneliness through the pathways of perceived social support, social contact, perceived constraints, and purpose-in-life.

RESULTS: Social media communication had a negative association with loneliness. Perceived social support and social contact mediated this association, but not perceived constraints, or purpose-in-life. General computer use did not have a significant total effect on loneliness; however, a significant indirect effect through perceived constraints, purpose-in-life and social contact was found.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Our findings extended the existing literature regarding the important factors associated with variation in loneliness among older adults. Health programs and ICT solutions could be more effective in mitigating loneliness if they target the root causes of loneliness, including reducing perceptions of constraints and increasing a sense of purpose-in-life, along with strengthening social relationships.

}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnad100}, author = {Zhang, Kunyu and Burr, Jeffrey A and Mutchler, Jan E and Lu, Jiehua} } @article {11261, title = {Social Media Communication and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Social Support and Social Contact.}, journal = {Gerontologist}, volume = {61}, year = {2021}, pages = {888-896}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Social media communication offers a medium for helping older people stay socially and emotionally connected with others. This study investigated the association between social media communication with close social ties and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. The study also examined the mediating roles of social support and social contact.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Four waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010/2012 and 2014/2016) were used to address the research questions (N = 7,524). A path model was estimated to examine the association between social media communication and older adults{\textquoteright} loneliness. We also examined whether the association between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support from close social ties (children, other family members, and friends) and frequency of contact with social network members (phone, in-person contact, and writing letters/email).

RESULTS: The results showed that frequent social media communication was associated with lower levels of loneliness, adjusting for previous levels of loneliness. The relationship between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support and social contact. Thus, social media communication was associated with higher levels of perceived social support and social contact, which were related to lower levels of loneliness among older adults.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggested that social media communication may be considered an intervention to reduce loneliness among older people by increasing levels of social support and social contact.

}, keywords = {Directed communication, Emotional Health, Internet use, Social Networking Sites}, issn = {1758-5341}, doi = {10.1093/geront/gnaa197}, author = {Zhang, Kunyu and Kim, Kyungmin and Nina M Silverstein and Song, Qian and Jeffrey A Burr} } @article {11313, title = {Social Media Communication and Loneliness Among Older Adults: The Mediating Roles of Social Support and Social Contact}, journal = {The Gerontologist}, year = {2020}, pages = {gnaa197}, abstract = {Social media communication offers a medium for helping older people stay socially and emotionally connected with others. This study investigated the association between social media communication with close social ties and loneliness among community-dwelling older adults. The study also examined the mediating roles of social support and social contact.Four waves of data from the Health and Retirement Study (2010/2012 and 2014/2016) were used to address the research questions (N = 7,524). A path model was estimated to examine the association between social media communication and older adults{\textquoteright} loneliness. We also examined whether the association between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support from close social ties (children, other family members, and friends) and frequency of contact with social network members (phone, in-person contact, and writing letters/email).The results showed that frequent social media communication was associated with lower levels of loneliness, adjusting for previous levels of loneliness. The relationship between social media communication and loneliness was mediated by perceived social support and social contact. Thus, social media communication was associated with higher levels of perceived social support and social contact, which were related to lower levels of loneliness among older adults.These findings suggested that social media communication may be considered an intervention to reduce loneliness among older people by increasing levels of social support and social contact.}, keywords = {Directed communication, Emotional Health, Internet use, Social Networking Sites}, isbn = {0016-9013}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa197}, author = {Zhang, Kunyu and Kim, Kyungmin and Nina M Silverstein and Song, Qian and Jeffrey A Burr} }