IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i18p7400-d411042.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Digital Coach Promoting Healthy Aging among Older Adults in Transition to Retirement: Results from a Qualitative Study in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Sara Santini

    (IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Via S. Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Flavia Galassi

    (IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Via S. Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

  • Johannes Kropf

    (AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Center for Health & Bioresources, 2700 Wiener Neustadt, Austria)

  • Vera Stara

    (IRCCS INRCA—National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing, Scientific Direction, Innovative Models for Ageing Care and Technology, Via S. Margherita 5, 60124 Ancona, Italy)

Abstract

Global aging and increasing multimorbidity are questioning the sustainability of healthcare systems. Healthy aging is at the top of the world political agenda, as a possible means for hindering the collapse of care systems. In the aging process, the transition to retirement can lead to an improvement or a deterioration of physical and psychological health. Digital health coaching technology can support older adults at this stage, but what must be the role of such a solution in promoting healthy aging and shaping sustainable care? This qualitative study, carried out in Italy in 2019, involved 15 older workers, retirees, and colleagues. Based on a user-centered design approach, this study aims at gathering older adults’ feelings on a digital health coaching technology for exploring this solution’s potential in promoting healthy aging. Findings highlighted that the digital health coach may help older adults improve several health determinants, e.g., physical activity, cognitive capabilities, and social life, but it can also entail the risk of stigma and break people’s privacy. The latter can be guaranteed by technology customization and codesign. Further research on the digital health coach benefits to boost healthy aging is needed to understand its potential for shaping future sustainable healthcare.

Suggested Citation

  • Sara Santini & Flavia Galassi & Johannes Kropf & Vera Stara, 2020. "A Digital Coach Promoting Healthy Aging among Older Adults in Transition to Retirement: Results from a Qualitative Study in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7400-:d:411042
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7400/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/18/7400/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kolodziej, Ingo W.K. & García-Gómez, Pilar, 2019. "Saved by retirement: Beyond the mean effect on mental health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 85-97.
    2. Mojtaba Vaismoradi & Hannele Turunen & Terese Bondas, 2013. "Content analysis and thematic analysis: Implications for conducting a qualitative descriptive study," Nursing & Health Sciences, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 15(3), pages 398-405, September.
    3. Eibich, Peter, 2015. "Understanding the Effect of Retirement on Health: Mechanisms and Heterogeneity," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 43, pages 1-12.
    4. Andrea Principi & Henrike Galenkamp & Roberta Papa & Marco Socci & Bianca Suanet & Andrea Schmidt & Katharine Schulmann & Stella Golinowska & Agnieszka Sowa & Amilcar Moreira & Dorly J. H. Deeg, 2016. "Do predictors of volunteering in older age differ by health status?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 91-102, June.
    5. Shai, Ori, 2018. "Is retirement good for men’s health? Evidence using a change in the retirement age in Israel," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 15-30.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Inje Cho & Kyriaki Kaplanidou & Shintaro Sato, 2021. "Gamified Wearable Fitness Tracker for Physical Activity: A Comprehensive Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Carmen Llorente-Barroso & Olga Kolotouchkina & Luis Mañas-Viniegra, 2021. "The Enabling Role of ICT to Mitigate the Negative Effects of Emotional and Social Loneliness of the Elderly during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-19, April.
    3. Gergely Ráthonyi & Karolina Kósa & Zoltán Bács & Kinga Ráthonyi-Ódor & István Füzesi & Péter Lengyel & Éva Bácsné Bába, 2021. "Changes in Workers’ Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-25, August.
    4. Sara Santini & Paolo Fabbietti & Flavia Galassi & Alessandra Merizzi & Johannes Kropf & Niklas Hungerländer & Vera Stara, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Coaching Intervention for Improving Healthy Ageing Dimensions among Older Adults during Their Transition from Work to Retirement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mattia Filomena & Matteo Picchio, 2023. "Retirement and health outcomes in a meta‐analytical framework," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 1120-1155, September.
    2. Leimer, Birgit & van Ewijk, Reyn, 2022. "No “honeymoon phase”: whose health benefits from retirement and when," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 47(C).
    3. Pedron, Sara & Maier, Werner & Peters, Annette & Linkohr, Birgit & Meisinger, Christine & Rathmann, Wolfgang & Eibich, Peter & Schwettmann, Lars, 2020. "The effect of retirement on biomedical and behavioral risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    4. Yingying Zhang & Steve Bradley & Robert Crouchley, 2023. "Gender Differences in the Effect of Retirement Duration on Cognitive Functioning," Working Papers 379420912, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    5. Zhaoxue Ci, 2022. "Does raising retirement age lead to a healthier transition to retirement? Evidence from the U.S. Social Security Amendments of 1983," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(10), pages 2229-2243, October.
    6. Yuanrong Xu, 2023. "The effect of retirement on health and mortality in the United States," Journal of Population Research, Springer, vol. 40(2), pages 1-22, June.
    7. Apouey, Bénédicte H. & Guven, Cahit & Senik, Claudia, 2019. "Retirement and Unexpected Health Shocks," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 116-123.
    8. Bertoni, Marco & Brunello, Giorgio & Da Re, Filippo, 2023. "Pension reforms, longer working horizons and depression. Does the risk of automation matter?," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    9. Barschkett, Mara & Geyer, Johannes & Haan, Peter & Hammerschmid, Anna, 2022. "The effects of an increase in the retirement age on health — Evidence from administrative data," The Journal of the Economics of Ageing, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).
    10. Shenglong Liu & Yuanyuan Wan & Xiaoming Zhang, 2024. "Retirement Spillover Effects on Spousal Health in Urban China," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 756-783, September.
    11. Zhang, Yi & Salm, Martin & van Soest, Arthur, 2018. "The effect of retirement on healthcare utilization: Evidence from China," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 165-177.
    12. Bellés Obrero, Cristina & Jimenez-Martin, Sergi & Ye, Han, 2022. "The Effect of Removing Early Retirement on Mortality," IZA Discussion Papers 15577, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    13. Elsa Perdrix, 2021. "Does later retirement change your healthcare consumption ? Evidence from France," Working Papers halshs-02904339, HAL.
    14. Gorry, Devon & Slavov, Sita Nataraj, 2021. "The effect of retirement on health biomarkers," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 40(C).
    15. Andrew E Clark & Rong Zhu, 2024. "Taking Back Control? Quasi-Experimental Evidence on the Impact of Retirement on Locus of Control," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 134(660), pages 1465-1493.
    16. Nielsen, Nick Fabrin, 2019. "Sick of retirement?," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 133-152.
    17. Byrne, Dominic & Kwak, Do Won & Tang, Kam Ki & Yazbeck, Myra, 2023. "Spillover effects of retirement: Does health vulnerability matter?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    18. Chiara Ardito & Roberto Leombruni & David Blane & Angelo d’Errico, 2020. "To Work or Not to Work? The Effect of Higher Pension Age on Cardiovascular Health," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(3), pages 399-434, July.
    19. Sara Santini & Paolo Fabbietti & Flavia Galassi & Alessandra Merizzi & Johannes Kropf & Niklas Hungerländer & Vera Stara, 2023. "The Impact of Digital Coaching Intervention for Improving Healthy Ageing Dimensions among Older Adults during Their Transition from Work to Retirement," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-19, February.
    20. Feng, Jin & Song, Hong & Wang, Zhen, 2020. "The elderly's response to a patient cost-sharing policy in health insurance: Evidence from China," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 189-207.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7400-:d:411042. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.