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Older adults’ perceptions of contexts surrounding their social participation in a digitalized society—an exploration in rural communities in Northern Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Caroline Fischl

    (Umeå University
    Jönköping University)

  • Nina Lindelöf

    (Umeå University)

  • Helena Lindgren

    (Umeå University)

  • Ingeborg Nilsson

    (Umeå University)

Abstract

Social participation and digital engagement can contribute to health and well-being among older adults. Because of older adults’ decline in abilities, coupled with complex technology and its perceived insufficient relevance to daily life, there is a need to create and tailor social opportunities and services that are supported by digital technologies for older adults to continue participating in society. Thus, it becomes relevant to explore older adults’ perceptions about contexts surrounding their social participation in a digital society. This exploration used a qualitative research design with focus group interviews and qualitative content analysis. Eighteen older adults, aged 66–81 years, from rural communities in Northern Sweden, participated in this study. The analysis resulted in three categories: experiencing conditions for social participation in a state of flux, perceiving drawbacks of urbanization on social participation, and welcoming digital technology that facilitates daily and community living. These categories were encapsulated in the theme—the juxtaposition of narrowing offline social networks and expanding digital opportunities for social participation. The findings suggested that co-creating usable digitalized services and facilitating satisfactory use of digital technologies could support older adults’ social participation through activities that they find relevant in their lives, and subsequently, might enable them to live longer at home.

Suggested Citation

  • Caroline Fischl & Nina Lindelöf & Helena Lindgren & Ingeborg Nilsson, 2020. "Older adults’ perceptions of contexts surrounding their social participation in a digitalized society—an exploration in rural communities in Northern Sweden," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 281-290, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:eujoag:v:17:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10433-020-00558-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s10433-020-00558-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Levasseur, Mélanie & Richard, Lucie & Gauvin, Lise & Raymond, Émilie, 2010. "Inventory and analysis of definitions of social participation found in the aging literature: Proposed taxonomy of social activities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(12), pages 2141-2149, December.
    2. Ella Schwartz & Howard Litwin, 2018. "Social network changes among older Europeans: the role of gender," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 359-367, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sarah Nauman Ghazi & Peter Anderberg & Johan Sanmartin Berglund & Jessica Berner & Ana Luiza Dallora, 2022. "Psychological Health and Digital Social Participation of the Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Blekinge, Sweden—An Exploratory Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Zhang, Qian & Webster, Natasha A. & Han, Shengnan & Ayele, Workneh Yilma, 2023. "Contextualizing the rural in digital studies: A computational literature review of rural-digital relations," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    3. Susanne Iwarsson & Marja J. Aartsen & Morten Wahrendorf & Matthias Kliegel, 2021. "What will the horrible year of 2020 bring to the future of ageing research?," European Journal of Ageing, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 1-3, March.
    4. 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.
    5. Marcelo Piña-Morán & Carlos Martínez-Matamala & Ricardo Iacub & María G. Olivo-Viana & Verónica Rubio-Aguilar & Luis M. Torres-Fuentes, 2024. "Analysis of Senior Citizens’ Participation in Social Organizations," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Vicente, María Rosalía, 2022. "ICT for healthy and active aging: The elderly as first and last movers," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).

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