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Selected Works of Rochell McWhorter
Contribution to Book
Do Loneliness and Social Connectedness Improve in Older Adults Through Mobile Technology
Disruptive and Emerging Technology Trends Across Education and the Workplace (2020)
  • Rochell R. McWhorter, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Julie A. Delello, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Christine S. Gipson, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Beth Mastel-Smith, University of Texas at Tyler
  • Kleanthe Caruso, University of Texas at Tyler
Link
Abstract
About one-fifth of the population in the United States in 2015 will be age 65 or older in 2050 and loneliness may be a contributing factor that inhibits their well-being and overall health. As the number of older adults continues to escalate, information and communication technologies such as smartphones and computers may create an increase in social connectedness leading to a decline in loneliness and social isolation. Results from this pilot study suggest that the older adult participants demonstrated some degree of loneliness. As the older adults used social media to connect with friends, family, and other information of interest, there was an increase in social connectedness for many of the participants, but the intensive iPad intervention was not significant in terms of reducing loneliness for either group over time.
Disciplines
Publication Date
January 1, 2020
DOI
10.4018/978-1-7998-2914-0.CH009
Citation Information
Rochell R. McWhorter, Julie A. Delello, Christine S. Gipson, Beth Mastel-Smith, et al.. "Do Loneliness and Social Connectedness Improve in Older Adults Through Mobile Technology" Disruptive and Emerging Technology Trends Across Education and the Workplace (2020) p. 221 - 242
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rochell_mcwhorter/106/