Internet Use and Problematic Use in Seniors: A Comparative Study in Switzerland and Poland.
Details
Request a copy Under indefinite embargo.
UNIL restricted access
State: Public
Version: author
License: CC BY 4.0
UNIL restricted access
State: Public
Version: author
License: CC BY 4.0
Serval ID
serval:BIB_BCF62D70F061
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Internet Use and Problematic Use in Seniors: A Comparative Study in Switzerland and Poland.
Journal
Frontiers in psychiatry
ISSN
1664-0640 (Print)
ISSN-L
1664-0640
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
12
Pages
609190
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: epublish
Publication Status: epublish
Abstract
Background: Seniors have been only little considered in studies examining problematic internet use and associated health issues, although they may present risk factors that make them particularly vulnerable for the development of problematic internet use. Objectives: (1) To compare Internet use and problematic use among seniors in Switzerland and Poland; (2) To examine the relationships between problematic internet use, impulsivity traits and well-being as previous studies showed that internet can be used to cope with negative emotions or life dissatisfaction. Methods: A cross-sectional survey conducted between June 2016 and April 2017 with 264 older internet users aged above 60 years old recruited in Switzerland (88) and Poland (176) assessing sociodemographic variables, online activities, problematic internet use, impulsivity traits and well-being. Results: The two groups differed in their reported online activities in that Polish participants reported more searching for information and buying, whereas Swiss participants reported significantly greater problematic internet use than Polish participants. Finally, a multiple linear regression analysis performed on the whole sample indicated that lower well-being and being a Swiss participant were both significantly associated with greater problematic internet use, after age, gender, level of education, impulsivity traits have been controlled for. Discussion: Swiss seniors showed a more problematic internet use than Polish participants who focused more in their online activities on utility use of internet. The relationships between problematic internet use and well-being suggest that older adults use internet mainly to cope with negative emotion or life dissatisfaction. Socio-cultural differences that could account for these group differences as well as difference with young adults are discussed.
Keywords
cultural differences, impulsivity, problematic internet use, seniors, well-being
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
06/07/2021 11:23
Last modification date
02/11/2021 6:39