Internet and older people

This mixed method research design explored the relationship between the selfefficacy
of senior adults and their use of the Internet. Two quantitative research questions
guided this study: (a) Is there a relationship between the self-efficacy of senior adults and
their level of use of the Internet? and (b) Do the demographics (gender, age, and
race/ethnicity) moderate the relationship between the self-efficacy of senior adults and
their level of use of the Internet? Two qualitative research questions guided this study: (a)
Is there a difference in views of senior adults in regard to their use of other technologies?
and (b) Is there a difference in views of senior adults in regard to barriers and benefits of
the Internet? Some of the benefits
discovered were that all the Internet users interviewed (a) had knowledge of the Internet;
(b) had access to the Internet; (c) are interested in using the Internet; and (d) use the
Internet to escape boredom in retirement, view favorite websites and to keep the mind
active.

This study explored the healthy aging process by: (a) examining the selected
demographics of older adults in South Florida; (b) examining technology use of older
adults in South Florida; (c) examining the health literacy levels of older adults in South
Florida; (d) determining whether a relationship exists between older adults living in
South Florida use of technology and their health literacy levels; and (e) evaluating the
effects of health literacy as it relates to technology use in older adults in South Florida.
Variables explored included health literacy, education, ethnicity, and technology use.
The sample study included 102 older adults (age > 60) living in South Florida that
had completed profiles on the South Florida Quality Aging Registry, a part of the Healthy Aging Research Initiative (HARI). The sample size represented 22.3% of the total South Florida Quality Aging Registry population. The ethnicities of the participants among the South Florida Quality Aging Registry were African American (17%); Afro Caribbean (7.8%); Hispanic (10.7%); and European American (63.7%). The education
mean was 15, indicating that the majority of participants had an education level
equivalent to completing high school. The mean health literacy score was 3.88,
demonstrating that the majority of the participants had moderate levels of health literacy. The mean technology use score was 7.5 on a scale of one through ten, indicating that the majority of the participants had a moderate level of technology use.
Analysis of variance, correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis
was used to explore the variables that may influence health literacy. There was a
statistically significant difference among Afro Caribbean and African American, Afro
Caribbean and European American, European American and Hispanic ethnicities related to their health literacy skill level (p < .01). Additionally, there was a statistically
significant difference among Afro Caribbean American and European American
ethnicities and technology use (p. < .01).