HCI 08 Workshop Poster
THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL AND
COMPUTER BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING
IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IDENTITY AND
WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS
Ursula Frackiewicz, Jacqui Taylor & Becky House
Psychology Research Group
Introduction
Development of identity occurs throughout the lifespan and in the age
group traditionally identified as being elderly there are often significant
changes to family and work relationships (e.g. retirement, children leaving
home, bereavement). The importance of relevant social support and
communication networks is widely recognized as enhancing positive
development of identity and well-being. However, social changes (e.g.
diminishing community life, geographical spreading of families) decrease
the availability of traditional support structures for many older adults. It is
proposed that online support may potentially help older people to develop
identity by increasing social network. Research is needed to investigate the
influence of Internet communication on identity and psychological wellbeing of older adults and compare them with the impact of traditional
social networking and support one gains from it.
The Research Project Aims and Objectives
To investigate the factors determining the access of older
adults to different technologies used to communicate, plus
the determinants of their choices and continued use
To gather lay perspectives on older adults needs and their
own identity perception
To investigate if technology can provide alternative social
support; can it supplement traditional support systems in
case of lack of them
To compare involvement and use of CMC systems as a
mean of social support with traditional support systems
To investigate the ways that computer-mediated
communication impacts on older adults’ identity perception
and psychological well-being
To identify how training in computer skills impacts upon
identity perception and well-being of older adults and size
of their networks
To identify how does technology affect identity in older
adults and to what extent. Does it have an impact in terms
of providing challenges, independence or sense of control?
Conclusion
•
This research project will contribute to a model for understanding
the ways in which technology use and social networking over the Internet
affect well-being, identity perception and identity development of older
adults.
•
It may offer insight into the barriers to access and continued usage
and factors of choice between the CMC support and traditional social
support systems, as well as finding ways of facilitating the involvement in
non-traditional forms of support.
•
The core of this research is that older adults will be invited to talk
about the issues themselves, through interviews and focus groups they will
provide lay perspectives on the subject matter, which would be a
significant alternative to research currently completed from a theory
perspective.
PhD Proposal
We will use a variety of methods to recruit local participants and
collect data in 4 phases:
I. Pre-testing to collect baseline data using questionnaires.
II. Focus groups to understand views towards current, future and
ideal forms of support using different strata of older adults.
III. Intervention (training in online and face-to-face
communication skills) followed by longitudinal evaluation
using diaries, Quality of Life scales and semi-structured
interviews.
IV. Focus groups repeated to develop the model.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis will be used to develop a model
of support, identity and well-being for older adults. Content analysis
of focus group discussions will highlight significant themes. Changes
in response to the interventions will be assessed using ANOVA with
baseline measures as co-variants and regression analysis will examine
inter-relationships between variables.
This research is novel in that so far no studies have longitudinally
and empirically assessed well-being and identity development
following an intervention relating to social networks.
References:
Bernard, M., Phillips, J. (2000). The challenge of ageing in tomorrow's Britain. Ageing and
Society, 20, 33-54
Bowling A. (1994). Social networks and social support among older people and implications for
emotional well-being and psychiatric morbidity. International Review of Psychiatry, 6,
41-48
Czaja S.J., Guerrier J.H., Nair S.N., Laudaeuer T.K. (1993). Computer communication as an aid to
independence to older adults. Behaviour and Information Psychology, 12, 197-207
Giddens A. (1991). Modernity and self-identity: self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge:
Polity Press
Wood A.F., Smith M.J. (2004). Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, and Culture.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc,US
Wright K. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. International
Communication Association
This poster was presented at HCI and the Older Population Workshop on 1st of September 2008 in
Liverpool (as part of 22nd British hci2008 “Culture, Creativity, Interaction” Conference
22nd).
Contact: {ufrackiewicz, jtaylor, bhouse@bournemouth.ac.uk}
COMPUTER BASED SOCIAL NETWORKING
IN THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IDENTITY AND
WELL-BEING OF OLDER ADULTS
Ursula Frackiewicz, Jacqui Taylor & Becky House
Psychology Research Group
Introduction
Development of identity occurs throughout the lifespan and in the age
group traditionally identified as being elderly there are often significant
changes to family and work relationships (e.g. retirement, children leaving
home, bereavement). The importance of relevant social support and
communication networks is widely recognized as enhancing positive
development of identity and well-being. However, social changes (e.g.
diminishing community life, geographical spreading of families) decrease
the availability of traditional support structures for many older adults. It is
proposed that online support may potentially help older people to develop
identity by increasing social network. Research is needed to investigate the
influence of Internet communication on identity and psychological wellbeing of older adults and compare them with the impact of traditional
social networking and support one gains from it.
The Research Project Aims and Objectives
To investigate the factors determining the access of older
adults to different technologies used to communicate, plus
the determinants of their choices and continued use
To gather lay perspectives on older adults needs and their
own identity perception
To investigate if technology can provide alternative social
support; can it supplement traditional support systems in
case of lack of them
To compare involvement and use of CMC systems as a
mean of social support with traditional support systems
To investigate the ways that computer-mediated
communication impacts on older adults’ identity perception
and psychological well-being
To identify how training in computer skills impacts upon
identity perception and well-being of older adults and size
of their networks
To identify how does technology affect identity in older
adults and to what extent. Does it have an impact in terms
of providing challenges, independence or sense of control?
Conclusion
•
This research project will contribute to a model for understanding
the ways in which technology use and social networking over the Internet
affect well-being, identity perception and identity development of older
adults.
•
It may offer insight into the barriers to access and continued usage
and factors of choice between the CMC support and traditional social
support systems, as well as finding ways of facilitating the involvement in
non-traditional forms of support.
•
The core of this research is that older adults will be invited to talk
about the issues themselves, through interviews and focus groups they will
provide lay perspectives on the subject matter, which would be a
significant alternative to research currently completed from a theory
perspective.
PhD Proposal
We will use a variety of methods to recruit local participants and
collect data in 4 phases:
I. Pre-testing to collect baseline data using questionnaires.
II. Focus groups to understand views towards current, future and
ideal forms of support using different strata of older adults.
III. Intervention (training in online and face-to-face
communication skills) followed by longitudinal evaluation
using diaries, Quality of Life scales and semi-structured
interviews.
IV. Focus groups repeated to develop the model.
Quantitative and qualitative analysis will be used to develop a model
of support, identity and well-being for older adults. Content analysis
of focus group discussions will highlight significant themes. Changes
in response to the interventions will be assessed using ANOVA with
baseline measures as co-variants and regression analysis will examine
inter-relationships between variables.
This research is novel in that so far no studies have longitudinally
and empirically assessed well-being and identity development
following an intervention relating to social networks.
References:
Bernard, M., Phillips, J. (2000). The challenge of ageing in tomorrow's Britain. Ageing and
Society, 20, 33-54
Bowling A. (1994). Social networks and social support among older people and implications for
emotional well-being and psychiatric morbidity. International Review of Psychiatry, 6,
41-48
Czaja S.J., Guerrier J.H., Nair S.N., Laudaeuer T.K. (1993). Computer communication as an aid to
independence to older adults. Behaviour and Information Psychology, 12, 197-207
Giddens A. (1991). Modernity and self-identity: self and society in the late modern age. Cambridge:
Polity Press
Wood A.F., Smith M.J. (2004). Online Communication: Linking Technology, Identity, and Culture.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc,US
Wright K. (2000). Computer-mediated social support, older adults, and coping. International
Communication Association
This poster was presented at HCI and the Older Population Workshop on 1st of September 2008 in
Liverpool (as part of 22nd British hci2008 “Culture, Creativity, Interaction” Conference
22nd).
Contact: {ufrackiewicz, jtaylor, bhouse@bournemouth.ac.uk}