Impact of Digital and Social Engagement on Quality of Life Among Rural Older Adults

Background and Purpose: In the current digitalized society, digital and social engagement are important elements in the well-being of older adults. However, less is known about how digital technology use and off-line social engagement are connected with quality-of-life outcomes in later life. This study aims to examine how different types of digital and social engagement are associated with different aspects of quality of life among rural healthy older adults.

Data and Methods: Older adults ages 60 years old or above, residing in the community in Southeast Idaho (n=154) participated in the ‘Aging in Idaho study’ in 2018. Sample participants were recruited via word of mouth, or ads posted on the University Facebook page. Sample participants were screened as having no cognitive impairments, no visual impairments, and being able to move around the testing room for the duration of the survey. Internet use for communication (i.e., email, texting, social media use, chat room use), instrumental purposes (i.e., shopping, banking), and health information searches were measured. Informal (i.e., visiting with friends or relatives, talking on the phone with friends or relatives) and formal social participation (i.e., attending group activities/meetings, volunteering, attending religious services) were measured. As dependent variables, five aspects of quality of life (QOL) were measured using the WHOQOL-BREF. Multiple regression analyses were performed using Stata 15.

Results: Well-educated (M=16 years) rural older adults used the Internet for various purposes, actively engaged in social activities, and reported higher level of QOL for overall and life environment (M=4.6, Range=1-5 for both). Internet use for communication was positively associated with QOL general health (β=.20, P <.05). Online health information search was negatively associated with QOL general health (β= -.42, P <.05). Informal social participation was positively associated with QOL overall (β=.17, P <.05), psychological health (β=.13, P <.05), and life environment (β=.20, P <.05). Formal social participation was positively associated with QOL social relationships (β=.16, P <.05).

Conclusions and Implications: Digital and social engagement relate in distinct ways with different aspects of QOL. Older adults perceived QOL general health to be better when they used the Internet for communication. Social engagement, however, was still importantly connected with different aspects of QOL among rural older adults, including QOL overall, life environment, social relationships and psychological health. Promoting digital engagement which enables to facilitate social engagement and maintain well-being in later life will be discussed.