New Anglia Ruskin study investigates the online behaviour of older adults
New research has found that older adults who go online every day are more likely to be socially isolated than those who use the internet less frequently.
Published in the journal Ageing and Society, the researchers examined data from 4,492 adults in England, with an average age of 64. Overall, 19% reported high levels of loneliness and 33% were classified as socially isolated.
Led by academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the study found that older adults who went online occasionally (once a week or once a month) were less likely to be socially isolated than daily internet users, with daily users recording levels of social isolation similar to those who never went online.
Social isolation is an objective measure of a person's social relationships, including the size and diversity of their social network, and the frequency of contact. The research, which took place before COVID-19 social distancing measures were introduced, found no link between internet use and loneliness.
