The COVID-19 pandemic has changed nearly everyone's social calendars, with social gatherings moving to video chats, office collaborations happening via communication apps, and lunches with friends moving to video chats. has been replaced by social media. A team of researchers from the University of Washington examined how the emphasis on technology has affected older adults' social relationships and support networks during the pandemic.
Researchers interviewed 16 adults between the ages of 65 and 76, 63% of whom lived with a spouse or family member who constituted their closest support circle. Study participants were asked how their technology use had changed during the pandemic.
The findings highlight that even though technology is helping older adults stay connected, face-to-face interactions remain the most valuable. According to study participants, these technological connections range from emotional care such as checking in with family members to providing care such as providing comforting advice to young families and sending money through online apps. It is said that
While technology was an easy and safe solution for quick check-ins during the pandemic, it fell short of the in-person connection that seniors said they craved. One participant said, “It’s distracting…”[Video conferencing] It feels like TV to me. ” Still, tools like texting and video calls have proven a way to maintain existing social connections when in-person meetings are limited.
To map out and visualize each older adult's technology use and preferences, the researchers used a framework called the “convoy model,” placing the people closest to them in an inner circle with slightly closer relationships. in the central circle and more peripheral relationships in the outer circle. .
The researchers found patterns in how technology maintains strong and weak social ties over time. For example, video calls were mostly reserved for people in their inner circle. Text messages and emails were more common for middle and outside connections.
This realization led lead author Wang Shengzhi, a doctoral student in human-centered design and engineering, to suggest that technology developers bring older adults into their teams.
Mr. Wang said: “We emphasize the need for co-design. Researchers and designers need to involve older people in the technology design process, in their own contexts of providing and receiving support, and in their social and connections and how they impact the use of technology.”
