Confidant network and quality of life of individuals aged 50+: the positive role of internet use

Abstract

Studies on the quality of life (QoL) of older adults have tended to focus on sociodemographic, economic, and health characteristics and, more recently, have analyzed the importance of confidant networks. The Internet has redesigned individuals’ daily lives and has become one of the main means of communication. In addition to the aforementioned variables, research must also gauge the importance of this technology and how it can influence the relationship between confidant networks and QoL of older adults. This article aims to analyze the contribution of the Internet on the QoL of older adults as well as the manner that it affects the aforementioned relationship. The present study focuses on a sample of 1,906 individuals aged 50+ who are resident in Portugal and were surveyed in the context of the SHARE project (Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe), wave 4. The results of the regression analyses reveal the importance of the Internet on the QoL of older adults. The data also underline the moderating role played by the Internet on the relationship between the confidant network and the QoL of individuals aged 50+, in particular the fact that this technology optimizes the positive impact of confidant networks on QoL. The results obtained thus reinforce the importance of policies aimed at the e-inclusion of older adults as a way to promote their QoL.