Abstract

SILVA, Patrícia; MATOS, Alice Delerue  and  MARTINEZ-PECINO, Roberto. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INTERNET FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING ALONE. A STUDY ON SOUTHERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. SOCIOLOGIA ON LINE [online]. 2022, n.29, pp.38-53.  Epub Dec 19, 2022. ISSN 1647-3337.  https://doi.org/10.30553/sociologiaonline.2022.29.2.

In countries with strong family traditions, scientific studies often associate living alone with feelings of loneliness, which have negative consequences for the well-being of older adults. In modern societies, the Internet plays an important role in communication. In view of this, the aim is to analyze the role of the Internet in the relationship between living alone and loneliness in southern European countries. This study focuses on a sample of 17,228 individuals aged 50+ living in Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece who were interviewed in wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). We conclude that older individuals who live alone and use the Internet have less frequent feelings of loneliness than their peers (individuals in the same age group). The results of this study therefore reinforce the importance of policies aimed at digital inclusion.

Keywords : loneliness; internet; living alone; aged 50+..

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )