THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL AND
COMPUTER BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING
IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IDENTITY AND
WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS
To investigate the factors determining the access of older adults to different technologies used to communicate, plus the determinants of their choices and continued use
To gather lay perspectives on older adults needs and their own identity perception
To investigate if technology can provide alternative social support; can it supplement traditional support systems in case of lack of them
To compare involvement and use of CMC systems as amean of social support with traditional support systems
To investigate the ways that computer-mediatedcommunication impacts on older adults’ identity perception and psychological well-being
To identify how training in computer skills impacts uponidentity perception and well-being of older adults and size of their networks
To identify how does technology affect identity in olderadults and to what extent. Does it have an impact in terms of providing challenges, independence or sense of control?
Development of identity occurs throughout the lifespan and in the age group traditionally identified as being elderly there are often significant changes to family and work relationships (e.g. retirement, children leaving home, bereavement). The importance of relevant social support and communication networks is widely recognized as enhancing positive development of identity and well-being. However, social changes (e.g. diminishing community life, geographical spreading of families) decrease the availability of traditional support structures for many older adults. It is proposed that online support may potentially help older people to develop identity by increasing social network. Research is needed to investigate the influence of Internet communication on identity and psychological well-being of older adults and compare them with the impact of traditional social networking and support one gains from it.
Introduction
The Research Project Aims and Objectives
Quantitative and qualitative analysis will be used to develop a model of support, identity and well-being for older adults. Content analysis of focus group discussions will highlight significant themes. Changes in response to the interventions will be assessed using ANOVA with baseline measures as co-variants and regression analysis will examine inter-relationships between variables.
PhD Proposal
Ursula Frackiewicz, Jacqui Taylor & Becky House
Psychology Research Group
• This research project will contribute to a model for understanding the ways in which technology use and social networking over the Internet affect well-being, identity perception and identity development of older adults.
• It may offer insight into the barriers to access and continued usage
and factors of choice between the CMC support and traditional social support systems, as well as finding ways of facilitating the involvement in non-traditional forms of support.
• The core of this research is that older adults will be invited to talk
about the issues themselves, through interviews and focus groups they will provide lay perspectives on the subject matter, which would be a significant alternative to research currently completed from a theory perspective.
Conclusion
References:
Bernard, M., Phillips, J. (2000). The challenge of ageing in tomorrow's Britain. Ageing and Society, 20, 33-54
Bowling A. (1994). Social networks and social support among older people and implications for emotional well-being and psychiatric morbidity. International Review of Psychiatry, 6, 41-48
Czaja S.J., Guerrier J.H., Nair S.N., Laudaeuer T.K. (1993). Computer communication as an aid to independence to older adults. Behaviour and Information Psychology, 12, 197-207
Giddens A. (1991). Modernity and self-identity: self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge: Polity Press
Wood A.F., Smith M.J. (2004). Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, and Culture. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc,US
Wright K. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. International Communication Association
This poster was presented at HCI and the Older Population Workshop on 1st of September 2008 in Liverpool (as part of 22nd British hci2008 “Culture, Creativity, Interaction” Conference 22nd).
Contact: {ufrackiewicz, jtaylor, bhouse@bournemouth.ac.uk}
We will use a variety of methods to recruit local participants and collect data in 4 phases:
I. Pre-testing to collect baseline data using questionnaires.
II. Focus groups to understand views towards current, future and ideal forms of support using different strata of older adults.
III. Intervention (training in online and face-to-face
communication skills) followed by longitudinal evaluation using diaries, Quality of Life scales and semi-structured interviews.
IV. Focus groups repeated to develop the model.
This research is novel in that so far no studies have longitudinally and empirically assessed well-being and identity development
