Digital literacy and health of older people in a Korean rural village
Y. R. Park & Y. Youm
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AbstractDigital literacy plays a significant role in the health and well-being of older adults. Studies have shown that higher levels of digital literacy among older people are associated with positive health outcomes such as reduced chronic diseases, improved physical function, lower depression levels, higher life satisfaction and increased social participation (Hwang et al, 2020, Oh & Bae, 2024). Information and communication technologies are increasingly used by and for older adults in everyday life and service interventions. However, according to ‘Report on Digital Divide 2023’ by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT, digital informatization level of the 60 and older scored 70.7 which is lower than the younger age groups (123.7 for those in the 20s). The gap among the older people is significant as well. Those in the 60s scored 78.6 while 70 and older scored 51.5(The average of the total groups is 100). The older people scored 95.3 in terms of accessibility (own computer and mobile devices, access to internet), 55.3 in capacity (ability to use computer and mobile devices) and 73.8 in usage (quantitative and qualitative assessment of technology use). In this context, the purpose of this research is to analyze the level of digital literacy of older people residing in a rural village in Korea and explore the relationship between digital literacy and their health.Keywords: digital literacy, rural aging, health, smartphone
Y. R. Park & Y. Youm (2024). Digital literacy and health of older people in a Korean rural village. Gerontechnology, 23(2), 1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2024.23.s.1157.opp