Digital communications strengthened family ties during pandemic

Research examining patterns of intergenerational digital contact before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in England has found that older adults increased their digital communication with family members during the pandemic.

CPC-CG and Centre for Research on Ageing members Professor Athina Vlachantoni, Professor Jane Falkingham CBE, Professor Maria Evandrou and Dr Min Qin have found that the pandemic resulted in more frequent digitally-mediated social interactions within the family, which may strengthen ties between older and young family members. The research indicates that the shift towards frequent intergenerational digital contact was observed across various demographic and socio-economic groups, suggesting that the pandemic has turned digital communication from an amenity to a necessity.

Before the pandemic, slightly over half of older adults aged 65 and above had regular digital contact with their families, with individuals with higher socio-economic status and better access to technology more likely to engage in intergenerational digital communication. The pandemic prompted a wider adoption of digital communication among older adults, bridging pre-existing disparities. Everyone had something in common to talk about, leading to reconnections and new forms of communication across generations, such as family Zoom meetings, wedding photos shared on WhatsApp and birthday celebrations on Facebook.

The study also revealed that some older adults decreased their digital communication during the pandemic, particularly older cohorts and men. Possible explanations include the loss of in-person support and restricted access to places offering free internet, like public libraries, due to lockdown measures. Family and peer support play crucial roles in facilitating digital engagement, and the limited availability of such support during the pandemic may have hindered certain individuals' ability to maintain digital communication.

Professor Vlachantoni comments: "The findings have important implications for policies aimed at promoting social connections among older adults and crisis responses. The results highlight the increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) by older adults, indicating that ICT can support their everyday functioning and expand their social networks.

"Digital communication has played a critical role in meeting the health and social care needs of older people during the pandemic. However, concerns about digital exclusion among certain older populations persist, emphasising the need for targeted education programs and inclusive design of digital communication technologies."

While the study focused on England, the researchers believe that the patterns observed are likely applicable in other countries as well.

"The growing capabilities of technology globally enable increased support for long-distance communication, strengthening social integration between generations," said Professor Vlachantoni.

"Future research should consider the long-term implications of changing digital communication patterns and explore the various dimensions of intergenerational solidarity facilitated by digital communications."

Further reading

Has Covid-19 been the great leveler? The changing use of intergenerational digital communications amongst older people in England during the pandemic (Journal of Applied Gerontology)

Posted 03/07/2023 08:41