Health and self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants : a population-based study
Kouvonen, A., Kemppainen, T., Taipale, S., Olakivi, A., Wrede, S., & Kemppainen, L. (2022). Health and self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants : a population-based study. BMC Public Health, 22, Article 574. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12874-x
Published in
BMC Public HealthAuthors
Date
2022Discipline
Hyvinvoinnin ja hoivan politiikat (painoala)YhteiskuntapolitiikkaPolicies and Politics of Welfare and Care (focus area)Social and Public PolicyCopyright
© The Author(s) 2022
Background
In older adults, including those with a migrant background, ill health is associated with less internet use. However, it is not known what are the specific self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants with different health conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between different health conditions and self-perceived barriers to internet use among older migrants.
Methods
We used the Care, Health and Ageing of Russian-speaking Minority in Finland (CHARM) study, which is a nationally representative survey of community-dwelling Russian-speaking adults aged ≥50 years living in Finland (N=1082, 57% men, mean age 63.2 years, standard deviation 8.4 years, response rate 36%). Postal survey data were collected in 2019. Health indicators were self-rated health (SRH), depressive symptoms, cognitive functioning, and doctor-diagnosed conditions. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between health indicators and a summary scale consisting of the following barriers of internet use: (1) internet use is too complicated and hard to learn; (2) having concerns about safety issues; (3) internet use is too expensive; (4) physical limitations hinder the internet use; (5) memory problems hinder the internet use. In addition, the two most commonly reported barriers (the first two) were examined separately using logistic regression analyses. The analyses were adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, local language proficiency, and income support, and the health conditions, and were performed with weights accounting for the survey design and non-response.
Results
After adjustments, spine/back problems (b=0.13; p=0.049), depressive symptoms (b=0.40; p=0.007), and problems in learning new things (b=0.60; p<0.0005) were associated with higher level of overall barriers to internet use. In addition, a number of health conditions were associated with individual barriers, albeit some health conditions appeared protective.
Conclusions
In general, older migrants with declining health experience more barriers to internet use than their counterparts with better health. To provide better access to healthcare for older adults, including older migrants, rapidly changing devices, software and apps need to be modified and adapted for those with specific health-related needs.
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Publisher
Biomed CentralISSN Search the Publication Forum
1471-2458Keywords
digital information technology Internet use older adults migrants depression barriers to internet use cognitive functioning chronic conditions maahanmuuttajat krooniset taudit Internet terveydentila ikääntyneet esteet masennus psyykkinen toimintakyky mediankäyttö maahanmuuttajatausta tieto- ja viestintätekniikka
Publication in research information system
https://converis.jyu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/144392880
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Related funder(s)
Research Council of FinlandFunding program(s)
Centre of Excellence, AoF; Strategic research programmes, AoFAdditional information about funding
The study was funded by the Strategic Research Council at the Academy of Finland (grants 327145, 327148 and 327149 for the DigiIN Project), the Academy of Finland (grants 312310, 336669, 312367 and 336671 for the Centre of Excellence for Research on Ageing and Care), Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Helsinki (contribution to the Centre of Excellence funding), Kone Foundation (project Crossing Borders for Health and Well-Being) and the University of Helsinki three year research grants. The sponsors did not have any involvement in review or approval of the manuscript for publication. ...License
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