Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities
Abstract Background In the global trend of actively promoting the participation of older adults in the digital age, the relevant negative issues featuring potential Internet Addiction (IA) among them has risen to be a new challenge facing the global public health. However, there is a severe lack of...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17980-6 |
| _version_ | 1797272955912192000 |
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| author | Dan Wang Xinyi Liu Kun Chen Chunyan Gu Hongyan Zhao Yong Zhang Yu Luo |
| author_facet | Dan Wang Xinyi Liu Kun Chen Chunyan Gu Hongyan Zhao Yong Zhang Yu Luo |
| author_sort | Dan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In the global trend of actively promoting the participation of older adults in the digital age, the relevant negative issues featuring potential Internet Addiction (IA) among them has risen to be a new challenge facing the global public health. However, there is a severe lack of related research. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and process of IA among the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to introduce factors that may influence IA in the demographic. Methods This study employed qualitative descriptive research methods to investigate older adults’ perceptions and experiences of IA. Semi-structured in-depth personal interviews were conducted between March and June 2023 with 36 senior citizens from urban communities in Chongqing, Southwest China. Data were analyzed via inductive content analysis methods. Results Through data analysis, 2 main categories concerning IA in older adults were identified: risk factors and protective factors. The risk factor categories include 5 individual factors (e.g., Internet as the major avenue for pursuing personal hobbies and interests, etc.), 3 family factors (e.g., household WIFI increasing the risk of prolonged Internet use indoors, etc.), 2 peer factors (e.g., peer recommendation and guidance as catalysts for intensified Internet engagement, etc.), 2 socio-environmental factors (e.g., the widespread daily Internet use spurs offline intolerance, etc.), and 3 Internet platform factors (e.g., the plenitude of online content triggers endless viewing/browsing behaviors, etc.). The category of protective factors encompasses 2 individual factors (e.g., a higher level of perceived risk regarding internet health hazards, etc.) and 2 family factors (e.g., more family commitment, etc.). Conclusions Older adults’ Internet addictive behaviors are shaped by multiple and complex internal and external factors. A higher level of online health risk perception is a key protective factor to effectively avoid the occurrence and deterioration of IA among the aged, a distinct finding from this study. It is believed that the “individual-family-peer-community” synergy strategy is expected to become an essential direction for IA intervention for older adults, in order to promote healthy Internet use among older adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f6333e4566948fa98ba6b10fb3d3239 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:36:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f6333e4566948fa98ba6b10fb3d32392024-03-05T20:35:01ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-02-0124111310.1186/s12889-024-17980-6Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communitiesDan Wang0Xinyi Liu1Kun Chen2Chunyan Gu3Hongyan Zhao4Yong Zhang5Yu Luo6School of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical UniversitySchool of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical UniversityShuangbei Community Health Service CenterXiaolongkan Community Health Service CenterShuangbei Community Health Service CenterSchool of Nursing, Army Medical University, Third Military Medical UniversityAbstract Background In the global trend of actively promoting the participation of older adults in the digital age, the relevant negative issues featuring potential Internet Addiction (IA) among them has risen to be a new challenge facing the global public health. However, there is a severe lack of related research. This study aimed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon and process of IA among the elderly. The purpose of this paper is to introduce factors that may influence IA in the demographic. Methods This study employed qualitative descriptive research methods to investigate older adults’ perceptions and experiences of IA. Semi-structured in-depth personal interviews were conducted between March and June 2023 with 36 senior citizens from urban communities in Chongqing, Southwest China. Data were analyzed via inductive content analysis methods. Results Through data analysis, 2 main categories concerning IA in older adults were identified: risk factors and protective factors. The risk factor categories include 5 individual factors (e.g., Internet as the major avenue for pursuing personal hobbies and interests, etc.), 3 family factors (e.g., household WIFI increasing the risk of prolonged Internet use indoors, etc.), 2 peer factors (e.g., peer recommendation and guidance as catalysts for intensified Internet engagement, etc.), 2 socio-environmental factors (e.g., the widespread daily Internet use spurs offline intolerance, etc.), and 3 Internet platform factors (e.g., the plenitude of online content triggers endless viewing/browsing behaviors, etc.). The category of protective factors encompasses 2 individual factors (e.g., a higher level of perceived risk regarding internet health hazards, etc.) and 2 family factors (e.g., more family commitment, etc.). Conclusions Older adults’ Internet addictive behaviors are shaped by multiple and complex internal and external factors. A higher level of online health risk perception is a key protective factor to effectively avoid the occurrence and deterioration of IA among the aged, a distinct finding from this study. It is believed that the “individual-family-peer-community” synergy strategy is expected to become an essential direction for IA intervention for older adults, in order to promote healthy Internet use among older adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17980-6Older adultsInternet addictionRisk factorsProtective factorsQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Dan Wang Xinyi Liu Kun Chen Chunyan Gu Hongyan Zhao Yong Zhang Yu Luo Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities BMC Public Health Older adults Internet addiction Risk factors Protective factors Qualitative research |
| title | Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities |
| title_full | Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities |
| title_fullStr | Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities |
| title_short | Risks and protection: a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in Southwest China communities |
| title_sort | risks and protection a qualitative study on the factors for internet addiction among elderly residents in southwest china communities |
| topic | Older adults Internet addiction Risk factors Protective factors Qualitative research |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-17980-6 |
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