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Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study.

ABSTRACT: As the use of technology becomes further integrated into the daily lives of all persons, including older adults, it is important to investigate how the perceptions and use of technology intersect with intergenerational relationships. Based on the international multi-centered study Technology In Later Life (TILL), this paper emphasizes the perceptions of older adults and the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships are integral to social connectedness with others. Participants from rural and urban sites in Canada and the UK (n = 37) completed an online survey and attended a focus group. Descriptive and thematic analyses suggest that older adults are not technologically adverse and leverage intergenerational relationships with family and friends to adjust to new technologies and to remain connected to adult children and grandchildren, especially when there is high geographic separation between them. Participants referenced younger family members as having introduced them to, and having taught them how to use, technologies such as digital devices, computers, and social networking sites. The intergenerational support in the adoption of new technologies has important implications for helping older persons to remain independent and to age in place, in both age-friendly cities and in rural communities. The findings contribute to the growing literature in the fields of gerontology and gerontechnology on intergenerational influences and the impacts of technology use in later life and suggest the flexibility and willingness of older persons to adopt to new technologies as well as the value of intergenerational relationships for overcoming barriers to technology adoption.

SUBMITTER: Freeman S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7459619 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study.

Freeman Shannon S Marston Hannah R HR Olynick Janna J Musselwhite Charles C Kulczycki Cory C Genoe Rebecca R Xiong Beibei B

International journal of environmental research and public health 20200807 16

As the use of technology becomes further integrated into the daily lives of all persons, including older adults, it is important to investigate how the perceptions and use of technology intersect with intergenerational relationships. Based on the international multi-centered study Technology In Later Life (TILL), this paper emphasizes the perceptions of older adults and the interconnection between technology and intergenerational relationships are integral to social connectedness with others. Pa ...[more]

PMID: 32784651

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Project description:ContextDepression is associated with increased mortality, but it is unclear if this relationship is dose-dependent and if it can be modified by treatment with antidepressants.ObjectiveTo determine if (1) the association between depression and mortality is independent of other common potential causes of death in later life, (2) there is a dose-response relationship between increasing severity of depression and mortality rates, and (3) the use of antidepressant drugs reduces mortality rates.MethodsCohort study of 5,276 community-dwelling men aged 68-88 years living in Perth, Australia. We used the Geriatric Depression Scale 15-items (GDS-15) to ascertain the presence and severity of depression. GDS-15 > or = 7 indicates the presence of clinically significant depression. Men were also grouped according to the severity of symptoms: "no symptoms" (GDS-15 = 0), "questionable" (1 < or = GDS-15 < or = 4), "mild to moderate" (5 < or = GDS-15 < or = 9), and "severe" (GDS-15 > or = 10). Participants listed all medications used regularly. We used the Western Australian Data Linkage System to monitor mortality.ResultsThere were 883 deaths between the study assessment and the 30th June 2008 (mean follow-up of participants: 6.0+/-1.1 years). The adjusted mortality hazard (MH) of men with clinically significant depression was 1.98 (95%CI = 1.61-2.43), and increased with the severity of symptoms: 1.39 (95%CI = 1.13-1.71) for questionable, 2.71 (95%CI = 2.13-3.46) for mild/moderate, and 3.32 (95%CI: 2.31-4.78) for severe depression. The use of antidepressants increased MH (HR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.02-1.68). Compared with men who were not depressed and were not taking antidepressants, MH increased from 1.22 (95%CI = 0.91-1.63) for men with no depression who were using antidepressants to 1.85 (95%CI = 1.47-2.32) for participants who were depressed but were not using antidepressants, and 2.97 (95%CI = 1.94-4.54) for those who were depressed and were using antidepressants. All analyses were adjusted for age, educational attainment, migrant status, physical activity, smoking and alcohol use and the Charlson comorbidity index.ConclusionsThe mortality associated with depression increases with the severity of depressive symptoms and is largely independent of comorbid conditions. The use of antidepressants does not reduce the mortality rates of older men with persistent symptoms of depression.

Dataset Information

Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study.

Publications

Intergenerational Effects on the Impacts of Technology Use in Later Life: Insights from an International, Multi-Site Study.

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