an exploratory study on the characteristics of the elderly internet addiction
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An Exploratory Study on the Elderly Internet Addiction
2013. 6. 25
Senior Researcher Jeong-hyeun Ko
(National Information Society Agency)
Content
1. Background of Research
2. Objectives of Research
3. Method of Research
4. Results of Research
5. Conclusions
2
Prologue
3
Prologue
This case is about internet game addict whom his son bought the computer, for his older mom seemed to be much bored and he wanted to give her something like amusements.
At first she could not use the computer and internet.
But she gradually got absorbed in the internet game, now skipping meals, she enjoys the game very much.
The reporter says internet addiction among seniors becomes a new problem in China.
Senior internet addiction case in China [KBS NEWS]
4
Prologue
He is also so indulged in the
internet game that he has two
PCs, spending approximately 36
thousand dollars to buy game
items, and he doesn’t turn his
eyes on his little granddaughter
even though she visits him.
Now his son regrets buying PC
to his dad.
Do you think these are extremely
abnormal cases that have
nothing to do with or can hardly
occur to ordinary seniors?
Senior internet addiction case in Korea [KBS]
5
Prologue
6
Background of Research
The elderly who go online increase rapidly.(22.9%, 1.8million)
2.3
5.2
10.1 11.9
16.5 17.6
19 20.1
21.8 22.9
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
elderly internet usage(60+, %)
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
7
Background of Research
The whole usage period is getting longer.(average 7 years)
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
26.9
84.6
120 119
106.2
94.3
83.3
99.3
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
under 10 10s 20 30s 40s 50s over 60 average
average internet usage period(month)
8
Background of Research
The whole usage frequency is getting higher.(once a day, 63.2%)
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet usage(KISA)
64.7
97.8 98.5 91.7
79.5
65 63.2
85.2
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
under 10 10s 20s 30s 40s 50s over 60 average
internet usage frequency more than once a
day(%)
9
Background of Research
It has been debated on how to define Internet
addiction(IA) among scholars worldwide since IA
occurred as a result of common use of Internet.
NIA defines IA as follows “status in which users who
excessively connect on the Internet shows problematic
symptoms of withdrawal and tolerance when they stop
using Internet use, resulting in a situation where they
must give up meaningful social and occupational
activities in order to use Internet.”
10
Socio-environmental factors
Excessive survival competition
Societal stress
Lack of alternative play culture
Unsound information culture
Internet factors
Anonymity
Convenience in money, location, time
Fantasy, fun
Speed, immediate response
Family-related factors
When parents show addiction trait
Parental attitudes of raising
children
Family breakup
Lack of trust in & communication in family
Psychological factors
Loneliness and alienation
Helplessness & low self-esteem
Depression
Anxiety
11
7.7% of Korean Internet users between 5 and 49 were Internet
addicts.
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet addiction(NIA) >
The total incidence rate of Internet addiction (%)
12
Adult students and unemployed adults tend to be more likely
to be hooked on Internet than the total average.
< Source: 2011 status survey of Internet addiction(NIA) >
Whole adults
20s 30s 40s Under Unmarried ₩1m or less Unemployed/ -graduates (adult) (adult) others
The most likely adult group of being addicted with Internet
13
Four distresses of the elderly
Poverty
Loneliness
Sickness
Rolelessness
14
Because of their physical, mental, financial, social conditions, elderly people could be easily drawn to the internet and vulnerable to IA.
Older adults may suffer more harmful consequences of IA than the youth.
IT Times
15
Investigating the characteristics of the elderly people's
internet addiction
Helping them not be addicted to the internet
Supporting them to make good use of it as their
leisure activities.
16
Survey target : 233 senior internet users aged over 55
who are learning and teaching how to use the
internet in the senior community centers
Method : Online questionnaire survey method
Period : May, 2012
Tool : Questionnaire
17
categories item
number contents
demographic
characteristics 8
sex, age, occupation, marital status, familial status,
educational background, income, role
status of internet
usage 4
usage period, average usage time per a day, usage
services, main usage services
diagnosis of
internet addiction 15
Korea Internet Addiction Proneness Scale for
Adults(KS-A)
psychological
conditions 4
family relationships, personal relationship, extent of
felling stress, extent of feeling lonely
influence of
internet addiction 5
whether going through problems due to internet
addiction or not, sort of problems(health, psychology,
relationships, money)
leisure satisfaction 1 extent of internet leisure satisfaction
Items of questionnaire survey
18
19
First, the internet addiction rate in the elderly is 7.7%, which is the same as overall Korean internet addiction rate in 2011.
category sample number
%
internet addiction group
high risk group 2 0.8
potential risk group 16 6.9
ordinary usage group
ordinary usage group
215 92.3
7.7%
20
Second, single and couple / low income elderly households are more prone to the internet addiction.
category
total upper 25% lower 25%
sample % sample % sample %
total 233 100 65 100 58 100
family
live alone 19 8.2 6 9.2 5 8.6
live only with spouse 161 69.1 48 73.8 34 58.6
live with child 38 16.3 8 12.3 13 22.4
live with child and grandchild
5 2.1 3 4.6 1 1.7
live with grandchild 2 0.9 - - 1 1.7
live with parents 8 3.4 - - 4 6.9
monthly average
household income
below 1 million won 47 20.2 16 24.6 4 6.9
1~2 million won 65 27.9 18 27.7 18 31.0
200~300 million won 63 27.0 16 24.6 16 27.6
300~400 million won 37 15.9 11 16.9 10 17.2
400~500 million won 12 5.2 1 1.5 6 10.3
over 500 million won 9 3.9 3 4.6 4 6.9
21
Third, seniors who feel more satisfaction in relationship with family and others and less stress and loneliness are less vulnerable to internet addiction.
Finally, seniors who undergo problems from internet overuse, experience financial problems more than health, mentality, social relationship problems.
22
The researcher is able to confirm that the elderly could be as addicted to the internet as the young and they have plausible conditions vulnerable to the internet addiction.
But as an exploratory study, my study has some limitations of small samples and using general adult scale, not tailored to the elderly. These limitations keep my study from exploring accurate characteristics of senior’s internet addiction.
23
Senior internet addiction
issue now lies underwater,
but it seems about to rise up.
So it is required we pay new
attention to senior internet
addiction problem, and take
preliminary actions in
advance such as research,
counseling, prevention
education, training of
professional staff.
24
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