Mo-Im Kim Nursing Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
J Med Internet Res. 2022 Apr 4;24(4):e37127. doi: 10.2196/37127.
The preferred devices to access the internet are changing from personal computers to mobile devices, and the number of older adults with or without disabilities is rapidly increasing in an aging society. However, little is known about the moderating effects of disability on mobile internet use among older adults.
This study aimed to examine the levels of mobile internet use and factors associated with this use among older adults according to their disabilities. In addition, moderating effects of disability on mobile internet use were investigated.
This study consisted of a secondary data analysis using the 2020 Digital Divide Survey conducted in South Korea. The single inclusion criterion was participants being aged 55 years or older; accordingly, 2243 people without disabilities and 1386 people with disabilities were included in the study. Multiple regression analyses considering complex sample designs were conducted to identify mobile internet use factors and to test the moderating effects of disability on mobile internet use.
Older adults with disabilities used mobile internet less than older adults without disabilities. However, disability status had moderating effects on the relationships between mobile internet use and (1) operational skills regarding mobile devices (B=0.31, P=.004), (2) internet use skills (B=1.46, P<.001), (3) motivation to use digital devices (B=0.46, P=.01), and (4) attitude toward new technology (B=0.50, P=.002). The results revealed that these positive relationships were stronger among older adults with disabilities than among adults without disabilities.
Although older adults and people with disabilities are considered vulnerable populations regarding technology adoption, disability creates a stronger association between several determinants and actual mobile internet use. Therefore, policy makers and practitioners should pay attention to older adults with disabilities to deliver appropriate information-literacy education. Older adults with disabilities could be the primary beneficiaries of mobile services and new technology.
随着社会老龄化，能够上网的设备正从个人电脑向移动设备转移，而无论是否残疾，老年人的数量都在迅速增加。然而，人们对于残疾对老年人移动互联网使用的调节作用知之甚少。
本研究旨在根据残疾情况，检查老年人移动互联网使用水平以及与其相关的因素，并探讨残疾对移动互联网使用的调节作用。
本研究是对韩国 2020 年数字鸿沟调查进行的二次数据分析。唯一的纳入标准是参与者年龄在 55 岁及以上，因此，研究纳入了 2243 名无残疾者和 1386 名有残疾者。考虑到复杂样本设计，进行了多元回归分析，以确定移动互联网使用因素，并检验残疾对移动互联网使用的调节作用。
有残疾的老年人比无残疾的老年人更少使用移动互联网。然而，残疾状况对移动互联网使用与（1）移动设备操作技能（B=0.31，P=.004）、（2）互联网使用技能（B=1.46，P<.001）、（3）使用数字设备的动机（B=0.46，P=.01）和（4）对新技术的态度（B=0.50，P=.002）之间的关系具有调节作用。结果表明，这些积极关系在有残疾的老年人中比在无残疾的成年人中更强。
尽管老年人和残疾人被认为是技术采用的弱势群体，但残疾会在几个决定因素和实际移动互联网使用之间产生更强的关联。因此，政策制定者和实践者应该关注残疾老年人，为他们提供适当的信息素养教育。残疾老年人可能是移动服务和新技术的主要受益者。
