A1 Journal article (refereed)
Social and satisfied? : Social uses of mobile phone and subjective wellbeing in later life (2022)

Rosenberg, D., & Taipale, S. (2022). Social and satisfied? : Social uses of mobile phone and subjective wellbeing in later life. Human Technology, 18(1), 45-65. https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-1.4

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Rosenberg, Dennis; Taipale, Sakari

Journal or series: Human Technology

eISSN: 1795-6889

Publication year: 2022

Publication date: 30/06/2022

Volume: 18

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 45-65

Publisher: Centre of Sociological Research, NGO

Publication country: Poland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14254/1795-6889.2022.18-1.4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82769

Abstract

The current study examined the associations between socio-demographic background and engagement in social uses of mobile phone, and between the engagement in these uses and life satisfaction and health satisfaction in later life through the lens of digital divide and uses and gratifications theories. The data, collected from the retired Internet users (62 and older) residing in seven countries (N = 5713), were analyzed using logistic and linear regression models. The results show that education and age predicted the engagement in social uses in the most consistent way. A number of social uses positively related to both life and health satisfaction. Of the particular uses, e-mailing and instant messaging were positively associated with life and health satisfaction. The results imply that socio-demographic background predicts the engagement in social uses of mobile phone in later life, that the engagement in such uses plays an overall significant role in wellbeing in later life, and that some particular uses play a greater role than others in this regard.

Keywords: older people; cell phones; use; Internet; social media; user experience; self-rated health; well-being; sociodemographic characteristics

Free keywords: digital divide; social use; uses and gratifications

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1