The Impact of Online Connections on Loneliness in Older Adults
Author Information
Author(s): Kim Nahyun, Katagiri Keiko
Primary Institution: Kobe University
Hypothesis
Does mutual following in online communities reduce loneliness among older adults?
Conclusion
More mutual followers can help older adults feel less lonely, but just having followers without real connections can actually make loneliness worse.
Supporting Evidence
- A greater number of mutual followers was positively related to the perception of establishing new online connections.
- The study found a paradox where more mutual followers could lead to increased loneliness if there was no meaningful engagement.
Takeaway
Having friends online can make older people feel less lonely, but if they don't really connect with those friends, it might make them feel lonelier.
Methodology
An online survey was conducted among older adults aged 60-79 in Japan, focusing on mutual following and loneliness.
Limitations
The study may not account for the quality of interactions among mutual followers.
Participant Demographics
Participants were older adults aged 60-79 from an online community in Japan.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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