Digital Inclusion among Community Older Adults in the Republic of Korea: Measuring Digital Skills and Health Consequences

• Published in: European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education (EJIHPE) Vol. 14; no. 8; pp. 2314 - 2336
• Main Authors: Pan, Thet Htoo, Aung, Myo Nyein, Nam, Eun Woo, Koyanagi, Yuka, Lee, Hocheol, Li, Li, Kyaw, Myat Yadana, Mulati, Nadila, Moolphate, Saiyud, Ma Hok Ka, Carol, van Dijk, Jan A G M, Yuasa, Motoyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 08.08.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Access to Computers; Adult Learning; Aging (Individuals); Analysis; Birth Rate; Community Surveys; Computers; COVID-19; Data Collection; digital education; digital sociology; DIHAC; Ethics; Food habits; global health; Grouping (Instructional Purposes); Health Activities; Health aspects; Health Behavior; Health literacy; Health Promotion; healthy aging; Internet; Internet access; Korean; Literacy; Measurement; Measuring instruments; mixed method; National Surveys; Older Adults; Older people; Physical fitness; Physical Health; psychometric; public health; Quality of Life; Retirement Benefits; Sample Size; Self Management; social gerontology; Social networks; South Korea; State Surveys; Surveys; Technology and civilization; Technology application; South Korea; Japan; global health; digital education; digital sociology; psychometric; South Korea; social gerontology; DIHAC; mixed method; healthy aging; public health
• ISSN: 2254-9625; 2174-8144; 2254-9625
• DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe14080154

Many older adults are increasingly embracing digital technology in the Republic of Korea. This study investigated the relationship between the digital skills of Korean older adults and their perceived health status and digital technology application for health promotion. This mixed-method study comprised a community survey of 434 older adults aged ≥65 in two cities in South Korea, followed by focus group interviews. Five types of digital skills, 'operational internet skills', 'information navigation skills', 'social skills', 'creative skills', and 'mobile skills', were measured using the LSE digital skill measurement instrument. Multivariable analysis identified the influence of digital skills on health-related outcomes. Among them, 'social skills' associated positively with self-rated health (β 0.37, 95%CI 0.08, 0.65). 'Information navigation skills' contributed positively to the use of digital technology and the internet for a healthy lifestyle in terms of improving eating habits (β 0.43, 95%CI 0.09, 0.77), accessing healthcare (β 0.53, 95%CI 0.21, 0.85), and accessing long-term care services (β 0.45, 95%CI 0.11, 0.79). Thematic analysis revealed that the study participants use Korean language-based resources such as Naver and Kakao Talk for social connection to promote a healthy lifestyle. This study concludes that encouraging initial and sustained use of the internet and enhancing digital skills among Korean older adults can promote active and healthy aging.