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Friends or Frenemies? The Role of Social Technology in the Lives of Older People

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  • Tina ten Bruggencate

    (Department of Tranzo, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands
    Chair of People and Technology, Institute for HRM and Psychology, Fontys University of Applied Science, 5612 AR Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

  • Katrien G. Luijkx

    (Department of Tranzo, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands)

  • Janienke Sturm

    (Chair of People and Technology, Institute for HRM and Psychology, Fontys University of Applied Science, 5612 AR Eindhoven, The Netherlands)

Abstract

By having a healthy and happy social life, social needs are fulfilled. When social needs are not fulfilled, loneliness and social isolation can occur, which have negative consequences for one’s physical and mental health. Social technology, technology that enables social interaction, can be a resource to fulfil the social needs of older people. In this study, we aimed to learn what role social technology plays in the social life of older people. We held 15 interviews with people aged over 70 who regularly use some form of social technology. Our results indicate that social technology plays different roles in the lives of older people. It strengthens the existing social relationships and social structures. It also brings depth and fun to the social contacts of older people and in this way, enriches their social lives. Social technology also gives a sense of safety and peace of mind to the older people themselves but also to their network members. However, there are barriers in the use of social technology. The older people struggled with using social technology and feel that social technology sometimes stands in the way of real human contact. In supporting and facilitating people’s relationship with others, a community and society, technology helps fulfil older people’s need for connectedness, meaningfulness and independence. However, the relationship with independence is ambiguous. Their life experience gives older people a thoughtful way of looking at social technology and the role it plays in their lives.

Suggested Citation

  • Tina ten Bruggencate & Katrien G. Luijkx & Janienke Sturm, 2019. "Friends or Frenemies? The Role of Social Technology in the Lives of Older People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-15, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:24:p:4969-:d:295234
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirsten Avlund & Rikke Lund & Bjørn E. Holstein & Pernille Due & Ritva Sakari-Rantala & Riitta-Liisa Heikkinen, 2004. "The Impact of Structural and Functional Characteristics of Social Relations as Determinants of Functional Decline," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 59(1), pages 44-51.
    2. Julianne Holt-Lunstad & Timothy B Smith & J Bradley Layton, 2010. "Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(7), pages 1-1, July.
    3. Farquhar, Morag, 1995. "Elderly people's definitions of quality of life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(10), pages 1439-1446, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mabel Ho & Eleanor Pullenayegum & Esme Fuller-Thomson, 2023. "Is Social Participation Associated with Successful Aging among Older Canadians? Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Xiaoyun Liu & Ka-Yin Chau & Xiaoxiao Liu & Yan Wan, 2023. "The Progress of Smart Elderly Care Research: A Scientometric Analysis Based on CNKI and WOS," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Sophie N. Gaber & Louise Nygård & Anna Brorsson & Anders Kottorp & Georgina Charlesworth & Sarah Wallcook & Camilla Malinowsky, 2020. "Social Participation in Relation to Technology Use and Social Deprivation: A Mixed Methods Study Among Older People with and without Dementia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Jennifer Liddle & Nicole Pitcher & Kyle Montague & Barbara Hanratty & Holly Standing & Thomas Scharf, 2020. "Connecting at Local Level: Exploring Opportunities for Future Design of Technology to Support Social Connections in Age-friendly Communities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-25, July.
    5. Rose Calixte & Argelis Rivera & Olutobi Oridota & William Beauchamp & Marlene Camacho-Rivera, 2020. "Social and Demographic Patterns of Health-Related Internet Use Among Adults in the United States: A Secondary Data Analysis of the Health Information National Trends Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Viktoria Hoel & Eliva Atieno Ambugo & Karin Wolf-Ostermann, 2022. "Sustaining Our Relationship: Dyadic Interactions Supported by Technology for People with Dementia and Their Informal Caregivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    7. Joost van Hoof & Deirdre M. Beneken genaamd Kolmer & Erwin de Vlugt & Sanne I. de Vries, 2019. "Quality of Life: The Interplay between Human Behaviour, Technology and the Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-7, December.
    8. Katrien Luijkx & Leonieke van Boekel & Meriam Janssen & Marjolein Verbiest & Annerieke Stoop, 2020. "The Academic Collaborative Center Older Adults: A Description of Co-Creation between Science, Care Practice and Education with the Aim to Contribute to Person-Centered Care for Older Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-14, December.

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