Offerman Jens, Schmidt Steven M, Iwarsson Susanne, Fristedt Sofi
Lund University, Sweden.
Jönköping University, Sweden.
Gerontol Geriatr Med. 2024 Jan 25;10:23337214241228109. doi: 10.1177/23337214241228109. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.
COVID-19 has affected the daily activities of people worldwide. Recommendations introduced to reduce the spread of the virus led to increased use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to meet everyday needs. Such rapid digitalization had not been seen previously and not been possible to study before. Hence, this study aimed to identify and describe self-reported changes in usage of and attitudes toward ICT among three generations in Sweden during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it aimed to identify whether and how belonging to a specific generation was related to these changes. A national cross-sectional survey was conducted in June 2020 with a final sample of = 3,000, stratified into three generations (30-39, 50-59, and 70-79-year-old persons). A majority reported using digital technology more often than before the pandemic. Compared to the youngest generation, the oldest and middle-aged generations reported that they used digital technology more often than before the pandemic. Our results show which technologies were considered essential for different generations during the early phase of the pandemic. This information can be used to guide policy makers based on knowledge concerning the needs and demands for digital technologies in everyday life among people of different ages.
新冠疫情影响了全球人们的日常活动。为减少病毒传播而出台的建议导致信息通信技术（ICT）的使用增加，以满足日常需求。如此迅速的数字化此前从未见过，也无法在之前进行研究。因此，本研究旨在识别和描述瑞典三代人在新冠疫情早期阶段自我报告的信息通信技术使用情况和态度变化。此外，它旨在确定属于特定一代人与这些变化是否相关以及如何相关。2020年6月进行了一项全国性横断面调查，最终样本量为3000人，分为三代（30 - 39岁、50 - 59岁和70 - 79岁的人群）。大多数人报告说，他们比疫情前更频繁地使用数字技术。与最年轻的一代相比，最年长和中年一代报告称，他们比疫情前更频繁地使用数字技术。我们的研究结果表明了在疫情早期不同代人认为哪些技术是必不可少的。这些信息可用于指导政策制定者，使其了解不同年龄段人群在日常生活中对数字技术的需求。
