Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
9-2023
Abstract
Stringent social distancing measures implemented to control the spread of COVID-19 affected older adults living alone by limiting their social interaction beyond their households. During these restrictions, interactions beyond the household could be facilitated by communication technology (CT) such as voice calls, instant messages. Our study provides evidence on how CT acceptance could influence the emotional support and in turn, subjective well-being (SWB) of older adults living alone. We did a cross-sectional survey with 293 community-dwelling Chinese older adults. Participants were surveyed from September to November 2020 and had completed measures on CT acceptance (competency), emotional support, and SWB. PROCESS Model 1 was used to estimate the conditional effects of CT acceptance (competency) on emotional support for those living alone versus with others. Following which, PROCESS Model 7 was used to estimate the conditional indirect effects of CT acceptance (competency) on SWB through emotional support. Our results suggested that living arrangement moderated the indirect effect of CT acceptance (competency) on SWB. For older adults living alone, CT acceptance (competency) was significantly associated with perceived emotional support and, in turn, their SWB. For older adults living with others, CT acceptance was not associated with emotional support and SWB. Our findings call for more research and support to increase older adults' acceptance of CT as an option for communication to increase emotional support for older adults living alone, even during non-pandemic times.
Discipline
Asian Studies | Communication Technology and New Media | Public Health
Research Areas
Psychology
Publication
PLoS ONE
Volume
18
Issue
9
First Page
1
Last Page
14
ISSN
1932-6203
Identifier
10.1371/journal.pone.0291806
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Citation
NAI, Ze Ling, TAN, Woan Shin, & TOV, William.(2023). Acceptance of communication technology, emotional support and subjective well-being for Chinese older adults living alone during COVID-19: A moderated mediation model. PLoS ONE, 18(9), 1-14.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3831
Copyright Owner and License
Authors-CC-BY
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Additional URL
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0291806
Included in
Asian Studies Commons, Communication Technology and New Media Commons, Public Health Commons