An Exploratory Study on the Characteristics of the Elderly Internet Addiction

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