The Factors Associated With Nonuse of Social Media or Video Communications to Connect With Friends and Family During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults: Web-Based Survey Study

Rachel D Savage; Sophia Di Nicolo; Wei Wu; Joyce Li; Andrea Lawson; Jim Grieve; Vivek Goel; Paula A Rochon

doi:10.2196/34793

The Factors Associated With Nonuse of Social Media or Video Communications to Connect With Friends and Family During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Older Adults: Web-Based Survey Study

JMIR Aging. 2022 Jun 6;5(2):e34793. doi: 10.2196/34793.

Authors

Rachel D Savage^{1

2

3}, Sophia Di Nicolo⁴, Wei Wu^{1

2}, Joyce Li^{1

2}, Andrea Lawson^{1

2}, Jim Grieve⁵, Vivek Goel^{3

6}, Paula A Rochon^{1

2

3

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Women's Age Lab, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
² Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
³ ICES, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ RTOERO, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁷ Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

PMID: 35344502
PMCID: PMC9177172
DOI: 10.2196/34793

Abstract

Background: Digital technologies have enabled social connection during prolonged periods of physical distancing and travel restrictions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. These solutions may exclude older adults, who are at higher risk for social isolation, loneliness, and severe outcomes if infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: This study investigated factors associated with nonuse of social media or video communications to connect with friends and family among older adults during the pandemic's first wave.

Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional survey was administered to members of a national retired educators' organization based in Ontario, Canada, between May 6 and 19, 2020. Respondents (N=4879) were asked about their use of social networking websites or apps to communicate with friends and family, their internet connection and smartphone access, loneliness, and sociodemographic characteristics. Factors associated with nonuse were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression. A thematic analysis was performed on open-ended survey responses that described experiences with technology and virtual connection.

Results: Overall, 15.4% (751/4868) of respondents did not use social networking websites or apps. After adjustment, male gender (odds ratio [OR] 1.60, 95% CI 1.33-1.92), advanced age (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.38-2.55), living alone (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.39-2.02), poorer health (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.04-1.71), and lower social support (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.71) increased the odds of nonuse. The reliability of internet connection and access to a smartphone also predicted nonuse. Many respondents viewed these technologies as beneficial, especially for maintaining pre-COVID-19 social contacts and routines, despite preferences for in-person connection.

Conclusions: Several factors including advanced age, living alone, and low social support increased the odds of nonuse of social media in older adults to communicate with friends and family during COVID-19's first wave. Our findings identified socially vulnerable subgroups who may benefit from intervention (eg, improved access, digital literacy, and telephone outreach) to improve social connection.

Keywords: COVID-19; age; communication; connect; connection; digital technology; elderly; factor; family; friend; loneliness; lonely; mental health; older adults; social media; support; usage; video.

©Rachel D Savage, Sophia Di Nicolo, Wei Wu, Joyce Li, Andrea Lawson, Jim Grieve, Vivek Goel, Paula A Rochon. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 06.06.2022.